Saturday, 20 June 2009
We must not forget the displaced peoples of the world
Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes and Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tom Calma commended the Australian Government today, World Refugee Day, on restating its commitment this week to meeting its international obligations to refugees from around the world.
“It is tremendously important that the plight of refugees and asylum seekers is put in a context of reality, rather than the tabloid news context that so often clouds the very real and tragic circumstances surrounding people who come to Australia, having fled from their own countries because of war and fear of persecution,” said Commissioner Innes.
“The reality is, in comparison to other countries, Australia receives relatively few refugees and asylum seekers, and any increase in the number of people attempting to come to Australia is part of a sad and continuing international trend,” said Mr Innes.
The UNHCR 2008 Global Trends Report shows that there was a 28 percent increase in claims for asylum worldwide during 2008.
“As a wealthy, multicultural country, Australia has an obligation, not only morally, but under international law, to assist these people who are far less fortunate than we are here,” said Commissioner Calma.
“When you consider that 42 million people were forcibly displaced from their home countries during 2008, including 15.2 million refugees, the sheer scale of this problem is staggering and one that we in Australia should be thankful we don’t have to confront as part of our own daily life experience,” Mr Calma said.
Commissioner Innes also once again urged the Australian Government to reconsider holding people, including children and minors, on Christmas Island.
“The Australian Human Rights Commission has always criticised the inhumane practice of holding people on an island with so few support services and over 2600km from the nearest Australian capital city – Perth – particularly when there are so many children and minors involved and many of the detainees are likely to qualify as refugees to Australia,” Mr Innes said.
Mr Innes said the Commission would conduct an inspection of the facilities on Christmas Island in July and would make a report to the Australian Government and the public soon after.
Commissioner Calma said: “World Refugee Day is important because it offers everyone in Australia the opportunity to stop and think about our global responsibilities towards refugees and also to consider the universality of human rights.”
Media contact:
Brinsley Marlay (for Graham Innes) 0430 366 529
Louise McDermott (for Tom Calma) 0419 258 597
