Father John Larsen SM, Director of the Marist Fathers in Ranong, Thailand, has was named 2011 Future Justice International Prize winner at a seminar recently held at ACU’s Melbourne Campus. New Zealand-born Fr Larsen served in the Philippines for many years before leading a Marist mission in to Burma (Myanmar). After being denied an entry Read more
A report about people trafficking in the Pacific – including Samoa – comes as no surprise to the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of Immigration, Auali’itia Fa’afouina Milford.
The Vulnerabilities to Trafficking in the Pacific report from the Australian Institute of Criminology warns of an alarming rise in trafficking in this part of the world. The report says that during the past six years, Samoa and nine other countries in the region reported their belief that people had been trafficked into their countries.
Auali’itia says Samoa is not immune. During an interview with the Samoa Observer yesterday, he revealed the latest case on these shores.“The most recent case was late last year when a group of people from Bangladesh illegally migrated to Samoa,” he says.
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The following is from the text of Fr Frank Brennan SJ’s speech ‘Principles for a Coherent Refugee and Migration Policy’, presented to the Society of Independent Scholars, National Library of Australia, 3 November 2011. In 2009, I was privileged to chair the National Human Rights Consultation Committee. During that inquiry we commissioned some very detailed research Read more
NZ Refugee Council president Dr Nagalingam Rasalingam said he was “completely shocked” to hear the country often accepts fewer than 750 refugees each year. The government’s agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees allows the 750-quota to go as low as 675 or as high as 825. New Zealand often falls closer to Read more
On Monday the Nauruan government confirmed it was now a party to the UN Refugee Convention. The paperwork necessary to join the convention in June was signed in June. It then had to wait for the UN to process its application. Nauru’s decision to sign the convention bolsters Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s calls to recommence offshore processing Read more
Overcrowding is becoming a serious problem in Kiribati and Solomon Islands and rising sea levels are also expected to lead to further climate change refugees. Australia and New Zealand have been told to expect more migration from their Pacific neighbours. Speaking to Cook Islands, Fiji, Filipino, Hong Kong, Indian, Kiribati, New Zealand, Niuean, Samoan and Read more
Pope Benedict marked the UN day for refugees by urging civil authorities and all people of good will to welcome refugees and guarantee them dignified living conditions until they can freely and safely return to their homeland. The pope’s comments were made during his Angelus message. Speaking on Vatican radio, Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio, the Read more
‘Today, unfortunately, it seems that every possible barrier is put in the way of asylum seekers and refugees who come to Australia seeking protection from persecution,” she said. ”They also seek the fulfillment of their fundamental human rights and ultimately a better quality of life in a free and democratic society.” said Judith Troeth in her valedictory Read more
Politicians, and we individuals, surely love to scapegoat people. We put them into boxes and blame them for their misfortune. We wash our hands of any responsibility. It is happening in Australia at the moment. Asylum seekers, people on welfare, are ready targets for scapegoating. How often in Israel are all Palestinian people scapegoated, dismissed Read more
Thousands of people have to flee their homes in the Pacific every year due to natural disasters. It is important to have comprehensive policies and legislation in place that ensures the rights of internally displaced persons are respected at all times, stated the organisers of a conference and workshop on human rights and disaster-induced displacement. Read more