Edmund Rice Justice Bulletin

Attention has again been focussed on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers still held in detention by the Australian Government with the release of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report last week. The report found that the Federal Government is responsible for cases of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of detained asylum seeker children.

The full report, and a useful summary, is available on the Human Rights Commission website.

Responding to the report Australia's Catholic Bishops have said that the Government and citizens of Australian must, as a matter of urgency, find alternatives to detention for unaccompanied minors and for children who accompany their parents

The bishops went on to say that "we plead the cause of refugees and asylum seekers again because the Gospel compels us to do so," and "we remain hopeful that hearts and minds will change so that the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia may be more humane, more respectful of human dignity."

Those campaigning for better treatment of asylum seekers are urging as many as possible to write to their parliamentary representatives in the light of the report. Information about the issue together with assistance in writing a letter can be found at the A Just Australia website