Photographer : Joseph Wenkoff – Actnow website
If I had to live in conditions like these, I’d want to find somewhere else to live too!
I was prompted to write this post after receiving my weekly email from BTN – Behind The News – an Australian current affairs show for kids and teachers. Next week they are doing a story on Asylum Seekers. This is an important area of inquiry for teachers to pursue with their students. That old chestnut of “our kids are the future” is oh-so-true and it is vital that we educate our students about issues like this! So let’s get some facts right!
In case you haven’t heard, there has been a lot of debate in the Australian community concerning the plight of recent asylum seekers from Sri Lanka and from other developing nations. Both sides of politics are trying to play the hard line. Our Prime Minister is currently negotiating with Indonesia so that they will take the take these people and stop them entering Australia. Forget your election promise, Kev?
Interesting that it is only desperate people arriving by boat that are targeted – what about all the other “illegals” that arrive by other means – namely by plane? Never see them mentioned in the paper.
It’s an emotional subject and facts can sometimes get lost in the heat of the debate. So in case you were wondering…….
Who is a refugee?
- is someone who is outside their home country because they believe they could be punished or harassed for ….[reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion] and cannot be protected by their government.
Who is an Asylum seeker?
- is someone who makes a claim for asylum in a country other than their own.
The terms refugee and asylum seeker are often used interchangeably because most refugees are at some point asylum seekers.
Actnow
Some facts about asylum seekers and refugees who according to some, “jump the queue”!
- people who claim asylum once in Australia often do not have the opportunity to apply offshore.
- REPEAT…..do not have the opportunity to apply offshore.
- Often the country they are coming from does not support the program, or they face persecution over their reasons for applying.
- Applying for asylum once in Australia is not illegal, it is in line with UN protocol.
Why are they put in detention?
- all persons within Australian borders must be detained if they do not possess either a valid visa or Australian citizenship. So not just boat people – how often do you hear about people who overstay their visa being detained? Nada. No political mileage in that!!!
- Seeking asylum is not illegal, however Australia’s visa system is complex and makes it hard for refugees to apply successfully
- Apart from often having poor English language skills, most asylum seekers are not familiar with Australian law
- They do not know they have the right to ask, how to ask, or that it is in their best interest to ask for legal assistance.
And this little gem…..
Australia became a signatory to the [UN] Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees in 1954 and 1973 respectively. Australia is therefore obligated to provide protection to both asylum seekers and refugees.
Need to hear that one again?
From Actnow
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