Refugee Advocacy Network - Page 33 of 39 - A coalition of Victorian groups campaigning for rights for refugees in Australia

Bowen maintains shameful policy of keeping 428 asylum seeker children detained: Greens

April 27, 2012

Figures showing 428 children remain detained demonstrate the Immigration Minister continues to flout our international obligations and neglects his duty as legal guardian to act in their best interests, the Australian Greens said today. “Australia is still punishing, rather than protecting, vulnerable children by locking them up simply because they have fled war, torture and persecution,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “We must change the law because children are being detained as a matter of course and the…

Abbott speech shows Coalition can’t accept reality on asylum seekers: Greens

April 27, 2012

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Tony Abbott has today shown he can’t accept reality and is stuck in the past by maintaining his dogma which breaches international law and punishes people rather than protects them, the Australian Greens said. “Mr Abbott keeps bleating his mantra about turning back boats and reinstating temporary protection visas, despite knowing full well their ramifications,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “The navy says it will not turn boats around because it is well aware of Australia’s responsibilities under…

Greens urge Bowen to relinquish guardianship of unaccompanied children and release them into community

April 24, 2012

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The Australian Greens have today urged the Immigration Minister to relinquish his role as the legal guardian of 26 Vietnamese unaccompanied children in detention in Darwin and release them into the community. “The Minister must cease being the legal guardian of all unaccompanied children and be replaced by an independent advocate who can act in their best interests and stand up for their welfare,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “This desperate plea in a letter today from a…

Greens renew call for inquiry into jailing Indonesian children in Australian adult prisons

April 20, 2012

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The Greens’ moves for an inquiry into the jailing of Indonesian children alongside Australian adults has been supported by revelations today the Australian Human Rights Commission has asked for an independent review into 17 similar cases. “We’ve long held concerns about why Indonesian children have been prosecuted and convicted based on wrist x-rays to determine their age, and these concerns have been supported by the Commission’s own inquiry,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “We welcome news today the…

Greens move for inquiry into Indonesian boy put in West Australian adult prison

April 19, 2012

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The Australian Greens have announced that when parliament resumes in May they will move for an inquiry into the case of an Indonesian boy who has been jailed alongside adults in a maximum security prison in Western Australia. “We need to learn why Ali Jasmin was put in an adult jail despite documentation showing he was a child and how many other young people are in the same position,” Greens’ immigration and youth affairs spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.…