Monthly Archives: November 2015

More to the Story Launched

I’m thrilled to announce that More to the Story – conversations with refugees has been officially launched and is now available on line and in bookstores! I’m particularly honoured that two eminent human rights advocates spoke at our two book launch events.

Fred Chaney, long time human rights advocate, Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia with me at the Perth book launch

The first event was held at Riversmith, a brand new café, produce and lifestyle store, in the main street of Margaret River. The Hon Fred Chaney, AO launched the book and spoke about the need for human stories. He said: “This is such a timely book about refugees. Rosemary’s book introduces us to people so we can get to know them. She gives us a human story and that’s important because refugees have been de-humanised in Australian society.”

Paul Power, Chief Executive Officer of the Refugee Council of Australia, spoke at the Perth event, held at the new Centre for Stories in Northbridge. He acknowledged the challenges that refugees face. He said: “As readers we have a unique opportunity to understand more about what it means to be a refugee as we read their personal stories. Combined with these, Rosemary shares her own journey over three years of meeting refugees and their families. We are also introduced to the people who assist refugees in our community.”

Fred, Paul and I thanked the refugees who shared their stories. It was lovely to see so many of the people featured in the book attend the event in Perth. I continue to be inspired by all them.

For more photos of the book launches please go to my newly created Gallery page.

Australia’s Human Rights Record Criticised

Great article in the Guardian about Australia’s assessment before the universal periodic review, a quadrennial assessment of countries’ human rights record by the UN human rights council.

Human Rights Law Centre’s director of advocacy and litigation, Anna Brown, said Australia’s efforts to demonstrate leadership on topics such as the death penalty and the rights of older people had been overshadowed by the wave of condemnation on policies of mandatory detention, offshore processing and boat turnbacks. “Australia’s potential to be a human rights leader is being completely undercut by its tremendously harsh treatment of people seeking asylum,” she said. “Last night at the UN there were calls from nations in every region and political grouping in the world for Australia to change its policies.”

The Australian-run asylum seeker detention centre on Los Negros Island, in Manus province, Papua New Guinea

Latest reviews

I’m very pleased to see some good reviews emerging for More the story – conversations with refugees. The latest one is from Steven Carroll from the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and Canberra Times:

“This collection of refugee’s tales goes behind the headlines and policy debates to put a human face to the issue that has divided the country for years. Among those Sayer interviewed is Paul, one of many Karen people from Burma who fled the country because pro-democracy protesters were being shot by government forces. Paul narrowly missing a massacre. And John, who left Afghanistan because the Taliban were cleansing the country of the Hazara people and he would have been shot or dismembered had he not taken a leaky boat to Australia, where he is now a community leader. One of his sons plays for Cambridge United in the UK second-division. There are many stories of tragedy and triumph here that the country might hear one day above the sloganising.”

To read more reviews please go to the Reviews page.

At the Ubud Festival

I’ve just been at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Bali discussing my book. I participated in a fascinating panel discussion about global refugee issues with fellow writers Mohsin Hamid, Monica Cantieni, Antoine Cassar. Thanks to our fabulous chair Ashwini Devare who kept the conversation flowing. It was a very thoughtful and inspiring and experience for me.

Panel on refugee issues at Ubud