Refugee Week is here, and this year, we are celebrating an incredible milestone:
Australia has now welcomed more than one million refugees since the end of the Second World War.
Behind that number are one million human stories. Stories of people forced to leave behind their homes, families, careers, and everything they knew. Stories of loss and heartbreak, but also of courage, resilience, and hope.
It is a moment to celebrate not only the people who found safety here, but also the generosity of Australians who opened their communities and gave strangers the chance to rebuild their lives. Refugees are part of the fabric of modern Australia: they are our neighbours, colleagues, teachers, healthcare workers, business owners, community leaders, and friends.
People like Noor Azizah, who arrived in Australia as a Rohingya refugee after fleeing persecution.
Today, she is a powerful advocate for her community, speaking up for those whose voices are too often ignored.
People like Asif Ali, who spent years separated from his family because of Australia’s asylum policies.
After years of uncertainty, he can finally call Australia home and look forward to a future with his loved ones.
These are not just refugee stories. They are Australian stories.
As you read this, Zaki Haidari, Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia will be visiting the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, meeting families who have spent years living in limbo after escaping violence in Myanmar. As a former refugee, Zaki knows firsthand what it means to flee persecution and seek safety.
More than one million Rohingya refugees are living in these camps. Many children have never known life outside the fences of a refugee settlement, and parents worry every day about food, education, safety, and whether their children will ever have the opportunities they deserve.
At the same time, humanitarian support is shrinking. As governments around the world reduce aid commitments, refugee communities are being asked to survive with even less. That is why your continued support matters.
This Refugee Week, we are asking for your support. Your donation will help us continue defending the rights of refugees and people seeking safety, both here in Australia and around the world.
Together, we can continue to stand alongside refugees, campaign for fair and humane policies, and push governments to provide protection, safety, and lasting solutions for people who have nowhere else to turn.
Together, we can help ensure that more people have the chance to rebuild their lives, reunite with their families, and live with the dignity that every human being deserves.
“Because every refugee story matters, and because hope can change a life.”
Because every refugee story matters, and because hope can change a life. Thank you for standing with refugees.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our human rights work.
