Bolivia鈥檚 government and social movements have announced they will host a global people鈥檚 summit on migrants and refugee rights. The "People鈥檚 Conference for a World without Walls and Universal Citizenship", set for June 20 and 21, is expected to draw together immigration experts and pro-migrant and refugee rights organisations and activists from around the world.
Refugee rights
Refugee rights activists in the Illawarra dropped off nearly 300 postcards at the Wollongong office of local MP Sharon Bird on November 18.
The postcards call on Labor to close the Manus Island and Nauru detention centres and bring the refugees to Australia.
Jasmine Pilbrow, a refugee rights activist who tried to stop the deportation of a Tamil asylum seeker, was sentenced on November 11 to a two-year good behaviour bond. No conviction was recorded.
In February last year, Pilbrow was among a group of activists trying to prevent the deportation of asylum seeker Puvaneethan.
She bought a ticket on his flight and once on board distributed flyers and refused to sit down unless he was allowed off the flight.
She was arrested by AFP officers and later charged with interfering with a cabin crew member and found guilty.
Celebrations of multiculturalism happened in 26 cities and rural locations across Australia on October 22 as part of Welcome to Australia events organised under the theme of 鈥淲alking together to welcome refugees鈥.
In Sydney, helium balloons, musical performances, bright red shirts and smiles gave it a carnival like atmosphere. For some it would have been their first refugee rights event.
In a backdown by the federal government on one of the most contentious elements of the Australian Border Force Act, health professionals have been removed from the definition of 鈥渋mmigration and border protection workers鈥. This leaves them free to speak out about conditions and medical treatment in Australia鈥檚 immigration detention system.
Refugee activists attended a meeting on October 3 to discuss strategy for the refugee rights movement.
The meeting was organised by the Refugee Action Collective (RAC) in response to an article written by Robert Manne, Tim Costello, Frank Brennan and John Menadue calling for a "compromise" solution to "our refugee crisis".
RAC invited Manne to speak at the forum. Chris Breen spoke on behalf of RAC.
Labor's deputy leader Tanya Plibersek's office fence on Broadway in Ultimo was adorned with cardboard cut-outs of children trapped behind bars on August 15, with some holding messages urging that the refugees be bought to Australia.
Ravi鈥檚 book 鈥淔rom Hell to Hell鈥 is an account of his experiences as an asylum seeker in Nauru detention center for three years through poetry and drawings.
鈥淭hank you for these protests. We love you and our hearts are with you in this moment.鈥
This message was sent from a refugee inside Northam Detention Centre in West Australia to activists who were protesting outside in 2014.
Messages like this inspire many of us to get active and persist with campaigns to make the world more humane.
A whole generation, to which I belong, has only known mandatory detention: it was introduced by 鈥渓eft鈥 Labor immigration minister Gerry Hand in 1992.
This interview with Amnesty International's Australian refugee coordinator Graham Thom, was broadcast on Radio 3CR in Melbourne on March 4.
* * *
Amnesty International has put out a media release criticising the Australian government's draconian laws against refugees. Why did you do that?
Hundreds of pro-refugee protesters rallied in Melbourne on February 27, calling on political leaders to let refugees stay and close the prison camps.
The action was called in response to a visit by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten to the Lonsdale St Greek Festival. People chanted 鈥淭urnbull, Shorten. Blood on your hands鈥 and 鈥淟et them stay" as they arrived on the stage.
The action was called by Refugee Action Collective and First Nations Liberation.
Refugee Action Coalition hosted a forum about what women endure on Nauru and Manu featuring聽Kyja from the Refugee Action Coalition Sydney,聽Thea a former save the children worker聽and Pamella Curr from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
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