Human Rights Day

On 17/11/201617/11/2016 By More to the StoryIn Events, get involved

The Centre for Stories in Northbridge Western Australia is holding a special event on Human Rights Day, Saturday 10 December, involving Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, Mary Ann Kenny, Baden Offord, John Ryan and Yasue Arimitsu. You may not know their names, but all these people make a difference in our world. They will be sharing the stories and books that have influenced and impacted upon their human rights work. Come along and listen. If you aren’t in WA – look for an event near you so you can take participate in International Human Rights Day.

Human Rights Day commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed a resolution inviting all States and interested organisations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.

The United Nations asks that on Human Rights Day we reaffirm our common humanity. In our current global environment I hope we can all take time to reflect on these issues more. Whoever we are and wherever we are, we can make a difference…. in the street, in school, at work, in public transport or at the voting booth. It’s up to all of us to understand the issues and the true stories so that we can defend the rights of a refugee or migrant, a person with disabilities, an LGBT person, a woman, a child, indigenous peoples, a minority group, or anyone else at risk of discrimination or violence.

Personally, I can’t think of a better way to mark Human Rights Day than to attend this Centre for Stories event. The speakers are all significant voices in the human rights movement and I’m sure this event will sell out very fast. If you are interested I urge you to reserve your place soon. I’ll look forward to seeing you there or hearing about your activities elsewhere in Australia and around the world.

The Seven Ages of Woman

On 15/11/2016 By More to the StoryIn Refugee stories, Telling other people's stories

My friend at Radio National Australia, Susan Maushart, has produced a wonderful new series called The Seven Ages of Woman. Some of you might remember ‘the seven ages of man’ speech from Shakespeare’s As You Like It which is among the most celebrated passages in English literature. Susan decided it needed a fresh approach – from a woman’s perspective!

Her series of the stories is about seven Australian girls and women, each poised at a critical moment in her life journey. From child to senior and from different cultural backgrounds and experiences they each reveal what it’s like to be female – right at this moment.

Susan and I re-connected after she read my book. She realised that to have a truly representative group of Australian women in her series, there needed to be at least one woman from a refugee background included. She asked me who I knew and I took her to meet the team at the Edmund Rice Centre WA where I spend a lot of time as a Board member and supporter. Like me, Susan was impressed by the grass roots work being done at the Centre. It was there that Susan met Bella.

Bella is a young woman in her twenties with a refugee background who works at the Edmund Rice Centre. She inspires all women every day through her work and life. I love spending time with her. And you will too as you listen to Bella’s story in the Seven Ages of Woman.

7-ages-of-women-series

A perverse punishment

On 07/11/2016 By More to the StoryIn Australian Asylum Seeking Policy, politics

The Refugee Council of Australia has labelled the proposed draconian laws, aimed at banning people who arrived seeking asylum in Australia by boat from ever setting foot on Australian soil, as ill-targeted, perverse punishment for people who came to us seeking safety.

In their recent newsletter, Refugee Council of Australia acting CEO Tim O’Connor said “The Minister and the Prime Minister have gone to some lengths to suggest these proposed laws are targeted at the people smuggling trade, yet it is both perverse and cruel that the people who will be ill-targeted are those that have sought our safety and protection.” You can read the full article here.

If, like me, you are horrified at this latest development, I urge you to sign the Refugee Council of Australia’s online petition.

unnamed-3

Refugees Welcome Here

On 02/11/201602/11/2016 By More to the StoryIn Australian Asylum Seeking Policy, politics

Refugees not welcome in Australia? NO WAY.

refugee-week-quote — Placard at a recent Refugee Week event

The Federal Government’s announcement to ban refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru from ever coming to Australia applies to 1,300 people who currently live there.

Seventy-two per cent of those who have been through the camps have been assessed as being refugees, according to the latest information issued by the government. I have no words for this latest cruelty inflicted by my government. What is the point of this when its ‘turn back’ policy is supposedly working? Fear, confusion of language and violation of international human rights continues in my country.

Malcolm Turnbull is sounding more and more like the previous PM John Howard who said in 2001: “We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come” as he fought against the rising support for Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party.

Can we really be returning to this low point in our history?

There is so much misunderstanding about why and how people seek protection and what happens when they arrive here. Why as a community are we prepared to accept the lack of information about what is happening in our detention centres? Asylum seekers are not only the most vulnerable group of people in Australia, but also one of the most marginalised.

Pauline Hansen went further yesterday that “all refugees are not welcome here.” It’s time that the millions of people who have come to Australia as refugees stood up with people like me and you to loudly say NO. Refugees ARE welcome here and have contributed positively to our community for decades.

I was please to share the stage at a community event with members of the Australian Red Cross last week. It was heartening to be reminded that they have been working with people impacted by migration – including people seeking protection – for almost 100 years.

There is a lot of great information on the Australian Red Cross website and it’s an interesting experience to take their quiz on asylum seekers and refugees… It reminded me how we have been misled on the facts. I encourage you to take the quiz and see how you go.

gingin-red-cross — Meeting the lovely Natasha Venebles from the Australian Red Cross