16 June 2004
WORLD REFUGEE DAY JUNE 20TH
Australia was actively involved in the establishment of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 and was one of the first nations to ratify the 1951 Convention on Refugees. When the Intergovernmental Commission for European Migration (ICEM) was formed in 1952, Australia became a major player and accepted 199,000 refugees through this program between 1953 and 1973.
Between 1975 and 1994 over 112,000 Vietnamese refugees were accepted for settlement in Australia, many of these arrived by boat after fleeing their home country in the aftermath of the Vietnam war.
In 1989 more than 40,000 Chinese students in Australia were granted permanent residency at the stroke of a pen in the aftermath of the Tianinmen square massacre - it being deemed unsafe for them to return home.
Australia has much to be proud of in its history of accepting refugees. Indeed Australia continues to accept thousands of refugees each year, albeit selectively taken from the pool of the estimated 20 million in UNHCR refugee camps.
All of which makes the current Government's harsh stance towards the relatively small number of boat arrivals so incomprehensible to many.
The sad fact is that many of these asylum seekers, including children, who have largely fled countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran continue to be held indefinitely in detention centres within Australia or out of contact from lawyers and media representatives in Nauru. This is despite widespread criticism from a wide range of professional and community groups, all the major churches and respected organizations such as Amnesty - indeed it is virtually impossible to find any non-government agency that defends the Government's policy. Most recently the government has decided to disregard the findings of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission HREOC Report a most comprehensive report that was scathing in its condemnation of Australia's treatment of asylum seekers.
For more information and a list of activities marking the day in Australia visit the World Refugee Day website.
Between 1975 and 1994 over 112,000 Vietnamese refugees were accepted for settlement in Australia, many of these arrived by boat after fleeing their home country in the aftermath of the Vietnam war.
In 1989 more than 40,000 Chinese students in Australia were granted permanent residency at the stroke of a pen in the aftermath of the Tianinmen square massacre - it being deemed unsafe for them to return home.
Australia has much to be proud of in its history of accepting refugees. Indeed Australia continues to accept thousands of refugees each year, albeit selectively taken from the pool of the estimated 20 million in UNHCR refugee camps.
All of which makes the current Government's harsh stance towards the relatively small number of boat arrivals so incomprehensible to many.
The sad fact is that many of these asylum seekers, including children, who have largely fled countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran continue to be held indefinitely in detention centres within Australia or out of contact from lawyers and media representatives in Nauru. This is despite widespread criticism from a wide range of professional and community groups, all the major churches and respected organizations such as Amnesty - indeed it is virtually impossible to find any non-government agency that defends the Government's policy. Most recently the government has decided to disregard the findings of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission HREOC Report a most comprehensive report that was scathing in its condemnation of Australia's treatment of asylum seekers.
For more information and a list of activities marking the day in Australia visit the World Refugee Day website.
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