The Refugee Advocacy Network is calling on all groups and individuals who support refugee rights to come together and send a clear message to the government: it’s time to end mandatory detention.
The crisis in Australia’s detention system has reached a critical point. There are now almost 7,000 people locked in detention centres across the country. Increasing number have been incarcerated for long periods of time – months or even years. Asylum seekers and refugees in the camps are increasingly despairing and desperate.
Something needs to change. And yet the government’s response has been to simply blame detainees for the problems in the centres and implement draconian measures against those it considers “troublemakers”. We need a completely different approach. The core of the problem is mandatory detention – an inhumane policy that victimises people who have committed no crime, and simply want a better life for themselves and their family.
We will be meeting at 12.30pm at the Nicholson st entry to the Royal Exhibition Centre in Carlton (near Gertrude st). After speeches there will be a mass march to join the EMERGE festival in Fitzroy.
If your organisation can endorse the event please email us at refugeeadvocacynetwork@gmail.com. Email the same address to arrange to have flyers sent to you or your organisation for distribution.
44 groups have so far endorsed the “unite to end mandatory detention” protest and march, to be held in Melbourne this Sunday June 19 (meet 12.30pm, Nicholson St entrance to Royal Exhibition Centre, Carlton). The rally has been organised by the Refugee Advocacy Network.
To add your group’s endorsement email refugeeadvocacynetwork@gmail.com
Groups supporting World Refugee Day protest
1. Act for Peace – National Council of Churches in Australia
2. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
3. Australia Asia Worker Links
4. Australian Education Union
5. Australian Greens, Victoria
6. Australian Nursing Federation
7. Australian Services Union
8. Australian Tamil Congress
9. Australian Western Sahara Association
10. Australian Workers Union
11. Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project
12. CEPU (Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union)
13. Darfur Australia Network
14. Edmund Rice Network Victoria
15. Eritrean People’s Movement
16. Eritrean Community Support Group
17. Fitzroy Learning Network
18. Geelong Trades Hall
19. GetUp
20. Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (GSANZ)
21. GRAIN (Geelong Refugee and Action Network)
22. Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project
23. Humanitarian Crisis Hub
24. Islamic Council of Victoria
25. Labor for Refugees
26. Maritime Union of Australia
27. Middle East Solidarity Group
28. National Tertiary Education Union
29. Queenscliff Rural Australians for Refugees (Queenscliff RAR)
30. Refugee Action Collective
31. Researchers for Asylum Seekers
32. Revolutionary Socialist Party
33. RISE (Refugees, Survivors & Ex-detainees)
34. Socialist Alliance
35. Socialist Alternative
36. Solidarity
37. Surf Coaust Rural Australians for Refugees
38. Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, Uniting Church in Australia
39. Tamil Refugee Council
40. Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union
41. These Machines Cut Razorwire
42. United Voice (formerly LHMU)
43. Victorian Council of Churches
44. Victorian Immigrant and Refugees Women’s Coalition