...Australia has a legal obligation towards asylum seekers and refugees. Australia has a legal obligation towards Asylum Seekers and Refugees as it is a signatory to the UN Human Rights and Refugee Conventions. Furthermore, Australia has a moral obligation based on its membership of the world community. “Australia is one of the 146 signatory countries to the United Nations 1951 Convention and or/ 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees”. (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, 2009) According to Australian Human Rights Commission an asylum seeker is someone who has fled their country and applies to the government of another country for protection as a refugee, (Australian Human Rights Commision, 2012) whereas a person is a refugee the moment he or she fulfils the criteria of the convention. As part of signatory countries to the United Nations 1951 Convention they are “obliged to act according to their efforts to allow everyone to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. This right may not be invoked in the case persecutions genuinely arising from non- political crimes or acts of contrary to the purposes and Principles on the United Nations”. (United Nations, 2011) This means that Australia has committed to respect the rights of refugees and to uphold the obligations set out in the treaty. This is in contradiction to the Migration Act 1958, which states, “Australian law requires that asylum seekers who have not been successful in their claims for refugee...
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...that would have been better” The following essay will explore the current system of offshore processing of asylum seekers under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and alternatives to this legislation. The basis of an amendment to this legislation to mandate onshore processing is in the enabling of a safe and humane migration into Australian communities, faster processing of claims and a process that is more effective and less costly than offshore detention...
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...Afghanistan and came to Australia by boat. I know that there are no words to comfort those who have lost their loved ones in the recent boat tragedies. But also devastating is the fact that over the past decade, we have only heard politicians endlessly scare-mongering about the number of boat arrivals and how we can decrease these numbers, or deter asylum seekers altogether. Over time, the real human faces of the vulnerable have been turned into statistics about the number of boat arrivals. We have forgotten the devastating circumstances from which asylum seekers come. Afghanistan has been in a state of war for many decades, a war that has left little evidence of justice, humanity and peace for its people. Even now, villages are frequently attacked and there is continuous persecution of minorities. The Afghan Hazaras are not safe in Afghanistan, and are not even safe in neighbouring countries like Pakistan. These are people whose only choice is to seek refuge and security in any way possible. For my family and me, we could not wait for someone to come and rescue us because we could have been dead by then. Coming by boat was the only choice we had. Even though we knew we were at risk of drowning in the daunting waters of the Pacific, we preferred taking that risk over brutal killing at the hands of the Taliban. It hurts me to hear politicians claim that the best way to minimise boat arrivals is via offshore processing. The Malaysia solution is nothing short of Australia trying to escape...
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...fled. This is the harsh reality of many refugees trying to seek asylum. Today I will be explaining why refugees that are in danger in their countries should be allowed access to Australia, and why they shouldn't be placed into detention centres once in Australia. Body Refugees that are trying to seek asylum in Australia need tremendous help as the Government policies that are in our country today are not working to help these helpless people but more to lock them up. The result has been a policy that is inhumane and ineffective and in many cases a violation of the international human rights law. These people do not see this country as an easy life but a country that will provide them with freedom. This is a story from one of the detention centres about a young girl....
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...The UN is greatly against your government’s treatment over the refugees, finding it a direct violation of the convention of the United Nation document. While also judging a number of aspects regarding the degrading tradement. The UN has made an effort to point out that your act of not wanting the refugees to retreat to our country, is a direct violation of your states responsibility, which your government signed. It’s commonly associated that the Australian government fails to understand the international rules. Where there are any person founded of dear or if anyone who is retreating to find protection from their country. To where you directly challenge this document by having your policy ‘offshore processing’. Where you are holding asylum seekers in what ultimately are detention centers. That ultimately determine if refugees are given the freedom to go for a walk. This is extremely unjust and this only discourages refugees to come to australia, which they are allowed. This is because they are fleeing from a country that is no longer safe, and as the document that your government signed, grants them this freedom, which the UN pointed out....
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...ASYLUMS SEEKERS AND REFUGEES “Like many members of the Hazara minority in Afghanistan, Chaman Sha Nasiri fled his homeland to escape persecution. At the time, the Taliban had been hunting for young men to either recruit or kill. Chaman then spent three years in the Nauru processing centre. It was a time of uncertainty, and as with many other asylum seekers, he became increasingly anxious and desperate” 1 Chama’s Story is just one of many for asylum seekers who seek refuge here in Australia. They come to our country expecting safety and freedom alongside the most basic human right. Yet when they arrive they are imprisoned and treated as criminals. It is clear that the laws surrounding this issue are in dire need of change. Australia is a country well known for its diversity of beliefs and religions, it is said to be accepting of others, however, when the topic of asylum seekers is brought forth, the government and media portrays the need for border protection, and “stopping the boats”. This type of hostile political enforcement and negative media coverage only furthers the portrayal of refugees as something fear, in the mind of most Australians. However, although it is not widely broadcasted by the Government or media, Australia has a legal obligation to help asylum seekers under the United Nations Refugee Convention 1951, to which Australia is signatory. According to the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, amended by the 1967 Protocol (the...
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...boat was intercepted which resulted in everyone on board being taken to Nauru. The couple have been recognised as genuine refugees yet they are still left on Nauru four years later. The couple believed that once they were in Australia’s territorial waters that they would automatically be permitted to stay in Australia. To add to their situation, the likelihood of the couple being transferred to the united states is decreasing as time passes. In this particular case, there are several issues presented, such as Refugees/asylum seekers, People smuggling, Australia’s boat policy and the conditions in Australia’s off-shore...
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...status. These are evident cries for help which sparks off debates on the government’s abilities to find a successful solution to the asylum issues. Australia has been criticized due to the requirements of compulsory immigration detention for ‘all unlawful non-citizens, (including asylum seekers)’ (Phillips & Spinks 2013, p.1). The other controversial issue of Australia regarding the asylum seekers is also the claims that it has been avoiding it’s responsibilities under the United Nations refugee conventions by making it hard for asylum seekers to claim refugee protection. Although the Australian government is undertaking various asylum policies in response to the constant increasing influx of refugees and asylum seekers entering the country, many are still constantly suffering and the human rights of these inhumane policies need to be further addressed. This essay will emphasize the inhumane asylum policies by weighing the negative aspects, but also addressing the government’s response in dealing with the asylum issues. Many have questioned the need for the mandatory detention of asylum seekers upon arrival especially when there is no exclusion for women and children. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has found that this policy is an infringement of human rights as it does not fulfill the conditions of Australia respecting the right of freedom and not subjecting people to detention, nor that even if detention was essential, it should be for a valid reason...
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...Democratic countries should have an obligation to accept refugees. Do you agree? In recent decades, many people have sought refugee status and this has caused a lot of discussion on the issue. Many argue that refugees should not be given priority in gaining entry to democratic countries, while others believe they should. The purpose of this essay is to point out that democratic countries should have an obligation to accept refugees. To support this position, the following areas will be examined: firstly, the reason why those countries are called democratic countries. Secondly, refugees are under the difficult situation. Thirdly, countries can take advantage of accepting refugees. A democratic country is defined as a form of government in which all the people have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. In order to deserve that, a country needs to fulfill some basic requirements. One of the most important is to guarantee the basic human rights, which is international norms that help to protect all people everywhere from severe political, legal, and social abuses. For example, Australia and Malaysia had a signature on a bilateral arrangement about transfer and resettlement through UNHCR. Thus, democratic countries have an obligation to accept refugees. A refugee is someone who has been forced from their home country by war, civil conflict, political strife or gross human rights abuses. Most of the time, refugees must flee their home and villages without warning...
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...were born, no one could choice the destinies or what will happen to us in the future. All refugees exchanged their lives for the Death to escape the wars, escape the poverty and the desire to change their life in another heaven. But what did they get after all? Indifference from the Australian Government and others. (change the slide) Did you see this picture before? That child is Aylan Kurdi - 3-year-old came from the northern town of Kobani Syria, near the Turkish border where are the hot spots of war between IS and Kurdish. Aylan and his family including parents, his brother Galip - 5 years old got on two boats with other people to leave their homeland - Syria and seeking a new land, where is no war, no bombs or bullets. They wanted to come to Kos Island, Greece. But life was always unfair, their boats sank on its way from Syria, taking the lives of 12 people including Aylan, Galip, and their mother. Please look at the picture! He lies on the beach, hands down along the body, face down in the sand. Aylan looked like a little angel is sleeping. But this little angel will never wake up. Maybe when you are seeing this picture, deep in your heart might have a little broken. Aylan is just a 3-year-old kid, he didn't do anything wrong, but he has to took a consequence that caused by adults. I believed that no parents want to give their children a situation like this. At the offshore also has lots of Aylan and Galip. (change the slide) The...
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...A Baptist policy on immigration and asylum seekers The world currently faces a global refugee crisis with up to 40 million displaced people (the majority of whom are women and children). Australia currently accepts around 13,750 refugees each year as part of total planned annual immigration of around 182,000 people. This paper identifies social and political problems relating to asylum seekers and refugees. It examines the biblical teaching on a responsible Christian approach to asylum seekers and refugees, and discusses some of the ways in which Australian Baptists have responded to the challenges of immigration and asylum seekers. It concludes with a new policy proposal for the consideration of Australian Baptist Ministries, the various State and Territory Baptist Unions, and local churches. There is also a guide to further information. The situation facing Australia today Immigration policy is one of the two most bitterly contested issues in Australian politics, and has been for more than ten years. People who seek asylum by boat, and various policy instruments designed to deter both asylum seekers and people smugglers, have been at the heart of an increasingly contentious public and political discussion in Australia for more than a decade. The debate has polarised large sections of the Australian community and prevented many politicians from engaging in a constructive policy dialogue. With little to differentiate their product, especially on economic and employment...
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...children be denied childhood? Why must children be denied education? Why must we call them the forgotten children? When Captain James cook first came to Australia he did not fly by plane with a passport and visa, he came by boat and was welcomed by the Aboriginals, we all know what they did to the Aboriginals! So if Australia’s history first started with CONVICTS on boats why are we denying innocent children and their families in harsh conditions, a place to call home? My parents like these people were once refugees and they wanted a new life for themselves running from the civil war in Somalia, and the harsh conditions they went through I’m happy I was not born then. While we go to school, have fun with friends and family and enjoy life ‘Children continue to suffer a catalogue of abuses – physical, psychological, and sexual – while in the care of Australian authorities. I refuse to sit and just except and say ‘yeah it makes sense’ they came on boats, they’re illegal and let them suffer because they were running for their lives. Children in mandatory detention some might say well what is that it’s simple two words ‘kids’ and ‘jail ’cheerio bye no! Wait. Why should children be denied childhood? Why must children be denied education? Why must we call them the forgotten children? When Captain James cook first came to Australia he did not fly by plane with a passport and visa, he came by boat and was welcomed by the Aboriginals, we all know what they did to the Aboriginals! So if...
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...Research Proposal on Refugee issues in Australia Name Instructor Task Date 1. Introduction. Refugees who are defined as people that are residing outside their countries of origin have a different reason for their migration to other countries. Sometimes referred to as asylum seekers, the individuals commonly seek refuge in other countries as they flee from harsh economic social and political conditions present in their countries of origin. Since time immemorial, Australia has had international obligations to protect the refugee’s rights starting from how they arrive to where they arrive. The Australian government is internationally obliged under different treaties that ensure that the human rights of the refugees are respected as well as protected. According to (Phillips & Spinks, 2013, p.241), the number of refugees that arrive to Australia by boat is approximately 4586. Research question, significance and aims of the research (I) Research questions * What accounts for the high number of refugees that arrive to Australia per annum? * What are the necessary actions, to ensure that the management of refugees and asylum seekers that come to Australia is done in the appropriate manner? * Is there a link between the number of refugees that arrive to Australia per year and the quality of service that the refugees receive from the department of immigration and citizenship? (II) Significance The significance of this study is to: * Examine...
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...Australia should accept asylum seekers. Discuss. Introduction: In recent years, the asylum seeker issue has been an increasing interest in Australia with many opposed opinions that led a much debated question is whether Australia should accept the asylum seekers or not. In this essay, I attempt to defend the view that the asylum seekers should be accepted into Australia because of the following reasons. Body: Firstly, Australia is one of the many countries that signed the 1951 Refugee Convention. It states that if people are found to be escaping persecution, they are to be allowed into the country. In order to comply with its responsibilities, Australia must increase its intake / start accepting refugees. A second incentive is Australia has the means to accommodate large numbers of people. As sung in the Australian National Anthem, Australia has “boundless plains to share” with “those who’ve come across the seas”. By accepting and welcoming people from around the world, all walks of life Australia will become a stronger and richer nation. By not allowing asylum seekers to integrate in Australian society, we are missing out on the opportunities to build our country. Finally, the financial. While some would argue that Australia should not accept asylum seekers because it is a huge financial burden. Australia current method of dealing with asylum seekers in offshore detention centres is far more expensive that the costs of educating and integrating these people. Although there...
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...This report details the extent to how internationally displaced persons are disadvantaged in Australia. Its primary aim is to educate and enlighten about the true aspects of displacement and what Australian institutions are doing about it. Additionally, some measures of support to this group will be suggested that may be brought to attention in the future. In this context, the report’s scope will only take Australian matters into consideration. To support this report, evidence is supplied primarily from literary resources published by various associations and coalitions involved with the support of refugees and asylum seekers. LUKE DO YOUR FINDINGS 2.0 Introduction In Australia, immigration has been a ubiquitous problem, especially in recent...
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