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Unfair Shores

Mark 12 June 2007, 12:03PM

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Australia's treatment of asylum seekers arriving on our shores is an embarrassment and an outrage.

Australia has signed a number of international treaties governing the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers - yet we have policies that are in flagrant disregard of these people's basic human rights and that have earned our country international condemnation.

Instead of providing a place of asylum, of refuge, we detain people indefinitely on remote islands or even in another country where they don't have proper access to our legal system and languish out of sight and out of mind while they hope for a new, secure life somewhere.

Our current practices of indefinite detention, our offshore program and our temporary protection visas that deny refugees security and the right to family reunion are not only in breach of our international obligations but cause untold hardship, stress and mental illness.

Download the kit

Amnesty International Australia has developed the Unfair Shores Campaign Kit to provide information and resources on its Refugees' Human Rights campaign. We encourage interested people to find out more about the campaign and how you can help make a difference.

What is in the kit?

  • Fact sheets and information to explain the policies and issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers looking for Australias protection.
  • The stories of real people. All took great risks to come to Australia and all are refugees. These tell the reality of Australia's policies.
  • Hints and tips for your next event and stall.

How can I use the kit?

  • Use the kit as a complete package or use sections separately.
  • You can photocopy sections of the kit for your own stalls/events/distribution. These could be handouts, or simply act as information to help you talk about the issues with members of the public.
  • Use the info in the kit to guide personalised letter writing at your stallsask your nearest Action Centre about mail boxes and booths.

When can I use the kit?

The kit is being produced for Refugee Week 2007 but will remain current for as long as Australiaגs treatment of asylum seekers and refugees remains unfair.

Thank you

Thanks you for taking the time to read the kit and for helping more Australians realise the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia is not good enough.

About the Author

This blog entry was created by Mark and does not necessarily represent the position or opinion of Amnesty International Australia.

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