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Online Resources

Fact Sheets

Refugee Claimants Support Centre Fact Sheets

Extensive range of fact sheets on the definition of refugees and asylum seekers, process for seeking onshore protection, issues affecting community based asylum seekers, the 45 day rule, issues affecting asylum seeker children and youth, global refugee statistics by country, asylum seeker myths and facts, the Refugee Claimants Support Centre, Scattered People, Brisbane Refugee & Asylum Seeker Health Network (BRASHN). In Word Format.
Download RCSC Fact Sheets

Dispelling the Myths in Various Languages

Two page myths and facts sheets about refugees are now available in the following languages: English, Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, Farsi, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese. Developed by James Harper, Brisbane City Council. Available from the Refugees Online homepage.
http://www.qcoss.org.au/refugeesonline

Edmund Rice Centre Myths and Facts

http://www.erc.org.au/issues/text/mm01.htm 

Australians for Just Refugee Programs Fact Sheets

http://www.justrefugeeprograms.com.au/issues/IssuesFrameSet.htm 

Refugee Council of Australia Fact Sheets

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/html/facts_and_stats/facts.html

Amnesty International Fact Sheets

http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/ref-factsheets.html

By Issue/Topic

Afghanistan Refugees

Afghanistan: Security Must Precede Repatriation
The HRW (Human Rights Watch) report on conditions in Afghanistan     http://hrw.org/press/2003/08/afghan080803.htm  See also the HRW report (New York, August 8, 2003) on Testimonies from Afghan Refugees at http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/08/1 

Information for Hazara people from Afghanistan to help in preparing submissions for refugee status is available on this site. The best help that can be given to Afghan people on TPVs or in detention is by providing supportive country information. The information on this site is intended to be of value to Hazara people from Afghanistan. It may be useful to other ethnic groups.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hazaratpv 

Nayano Taylor-Neumann has been putting together information on Afghanistan from a range of sources. This is a useful resource for people whose TPV is coming up for review, and it is updated it regularly.
Email: tayneu@ozemail.com.au

'...To our Afghani friends, as an Aboriginal person, we want to say: 
you are welcome in our country,
you are not illegals or queque jumpers,
you are God’s gift to us, to our centre and to our country,
your presence enriches us,
and we love you very much.'
Read the full article by Ms Shirley Peisley AM & Fr Tony Pearson

ALP New Policy on Asylum Seekers

The ALP policy on asylum seekers, released in early December 2002 has been variously described as 'disappointing', 'a huge advance', 'disgraceful' and a 'step in the right direction'. Read more about this policy by downloading the following Word documents.
Analysis of ALP Policy on Asylum Seekers by the Melbourne CCJDP
Justice for Asylum Seekers - an advocate's response

Read Carmen Lawrence's statement regarding her resignation, shortly after the release of the ALP policy
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/09/1039379776694.html

Children in Detention

A Just Australia has reported an increase in the number of children held in detention centres in their December 2003 report. Download the media release and the statistics (in Word format).

The September 2003 issue of the newsletter of the National Rural Health Alliance which contains an article entitled Behind the Wire: Children in immigration detention at http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/nrhapublic/PublicDocs/PartyLine/NRHAnltrSept03www.pdf

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission announced the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention on 28 November 2001. Details about the Inquiry and its findings can be accessed here http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/children_detention/index.html

CHILOUT - Children out of Detention. A group of parents and citizens opposed to the mandatory detention of children in Australian immigration detention centres (IDCs). We cannot stand by and witness the mistreatment of children carried out in our name and on our behalf.
http://www.chilout.org/

Ask the children: Kids speak out about immigration detention experiences. The NSW commission for children and young people produced a paper outlining children's stories included in their submission to the HREOC Inquiry into children living in immigration detention.The children describe their experience of coming to Australia, immigration detention and also give their views on how detention can be improved. Read their stories at http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/ourwork/immigrationdetention.html

Children Overboard

The Unthrown Kids photos. Most of these photos we were not allowed to see, in keeping with the brief issued by Operation Relex' Canberra Command Centre - at The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's office - which stipulated explicitly to 'not humanise the asylum seekers'. Go to http://www.safecom.org/kids-overboard.htm 

The 'Truth Overboard' site is devoted to capturing the chronology, evidence etc involved in the 'children overboard' scandal.
http://www.truthoverboard.com/default.html

Deportation/Removal of Asylum Seekers from Australia

For a selection of news articles about deportations and the anti-deportations campaign go to: http://www.rac-qld.org/cms/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=22 

Canberra Refugee Action Committee maintains case studies on deportations, including information about inhumane treatment & cases where persons were killed, jailed or disappeared upon return.
www.refugeeaction.org/jannah/deportations.htm

This Just Comment from the Edmund Rice Centre features churches speaking out on the dangers of deporting Asylum Seekers to their home countries. Includes a number of case studies of Asylum Seekers who have been killed upon return.  www.erc.org.au/issues/text/dd03.htm

"In a report compiled by The Coalition for the Protection of Asylum Seekers, there are cases of deportees on their return being murdered, imprisoned or disappeared. People who fled from generalized violence may not normally qualify for obtaining refugee protection visa in Australia. This factor can be compounded by restrictive interpretation of refugee convention, with downright disregard by the Australian government about the safety of any 'illegal migrants (as defined by the authorities)' that were deported." - U Ne Oo. View the report 

For up to date information about deportations and opportunities to get involved go to the website of the Refugee Action Collective http://www.rac-qld.org/cms/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=15

Detention Centres and Asylum Seeker Processing Locales

The Baxter Files From Project Safecom. Project SafeCom's newly released CD ROM contains more than 130 news articles, media releases, photos, poems and messages from Baxter, and is the most comprehensive record of all that took place during Easter 2003 at the Baxter detention centre. Price of the CD is $12.00 - this includes postage. Again we do multiple discounts: we think everyone inside Baxter should have one! The CD comes in a jewel case, with different attractive background designs.
Orders: http://www.safecom.org/baxterfiles.htm 

Report on cost of detention centres. 
Justice for Asylum seekers (JAS) has issued this report on costings of detention centres. JAS is an alliance of over 25 national church and community organisations, based in Melbourne and established in 1999.
Contact: Marc Purcell (Tel: 0418 170 541) or Sarina Greco (Tel: 0418 477 277)
Download:  JAS Costings Media Release 21-8-03

Media release from A Just Australia, 20 May 2003. Download the release "Ruddock must stand aside while abuse and fraud allegations investigated" 

Report of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, released December 2002. After being barred from Australia for years, the UN was finally allowed to visit detention centres in early 2002. Their report is highly critical of the current system of mandatory detention. 
Read the report
Read the press release by the Refugee Council of Australia

Report on Visits to Immigration Detention Facilities by the Human Rights Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski. This report outlines the results of visits to Australia's mainland detention facilities during 2001 and a visit to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in January 2002. It focuses on conditions in detention facilities and forms part of the Commission's regular monitoring of detention centres. The report raises many specific concerns about current detention practises.
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/idc/index.html 

Baxter Watch. Information about what is happening in the Baxter Immigration Detention Centre, ways of taking action, email list.
http://www.baxterwatch.net 

Christmas Island Refugees monitors what is happening on Christmas Island. www.refugee.org.cx 

Inside Port Hedland provides up to date information on the situation facing asylum seekers in the Port Hedland detention facility.
http://www.porthedland.nomasters.org/

Maribyrnong Detention Centre Watch provides information on the situation of asylum seekers in MDC and how you can support asylum seekers.
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mdwatch/
MDC also has an email list. You can read all messages at http://www.topica.com/lists/mdc-watch/read , or subscribe via blank email to mdc-watch-subscribe@topica.com 

Nauru Detention Centre. 
The Nauruwire website contains information news about asylum seekers in Australia's detention centres in Nauru and Manus Island, PNG: www.nauruwire.org
Download November 2003 briefing paper from A Just Australia about the situation on Nauru. (In Adobe Acrobat - pdf - format).
News of the Nauru Detention Centre, links to newsgroups, and a photo gallery. Go to: http://members.optusnet.com.au/hazara/index.html.
Update on Nauru - a report from the RAC forum held in Brisbane on July 31 2003, by Frederika Steen, refugee advocate and volunteer worker at the Romero Centre. Download the Nauru report (in Word format)

Woomera Detention Centre. Refugee Embassy gives up to date information from Ross Parry and Dave Mackay the founders of the embassy, based at roadhouse in remote South Australia, on the situation for detainees in the Woomera detention centre.
http://autonomous.org/refugee/

East Timorese Asylum Seekers Facing Deportation

1800 East Timorese Asylum Seekers in Australia are facing deportation before the end of 2002.They need your help! Find out the facts and how to help
http://www.hotkey.net.au/~gianniw/

False Passports

The Edmund Rice Centre in Sydney has released a summary of the interim report into research suggesting that people have been deported from Australian detention centres using false travel documents. Go to http://www.erc.org.au/background_passport.htm

Freedom Bus

Gives great background on those amazing people who in summer 2002 hoped in a bus and visited detention centres around the country. Provides updates, background information and how to get involved.
http://www.refugeefreedombus.org/

Health

This letter from Father Frank Brennan to DIMIA addresses the issue of a pregnant woman detainee being denied the presence of any close women friends at the birth of her child, and allowing only the presence of a female ACM officer. Download the letter (in Word format)

Refugee & Asylum Seeker Health Resource Centre. The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners website has collected a number of articles, contact details and links for GPs who are interested in learning more about the health needs of asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.
http://www.racgp.org.au/folder.asp?id=694
Media release from the Australian Medical Association August 2001

Medical Journal of Australia. Healthcare, mental health and related issues about Refugees. HTML and PDF files available. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/175_12_171201/smith/smith.html

Journal of Traumatic Stress. http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/0894-9867/contents.

British Medical Journal. Papers downloadable as PDF files. http://www.bmj.com

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journals/anp/

* The text of an address by Dr Carmen Lawrence, Federal Member for Fremantle, to the Australian Psychological Society (APS) Sydney Branch on 19 June, 2003 critiquing Australia's current treatment of asylum seekers. Go to:
http://www.psychsociety.com.au/news/fear_and_denial_in_public_policy.pdf

Internal Displacement

"When does internal displacement end?" taps into the thinking of an array of experts in order to provide guidance on when displacement ends for UN and other international agencies, governments, NGOs, researchers and IDPs themselves. Produced in coordination with Georgetown University's Institute for Study of International Migration and the Brookings Institution-SAIS Project on Internal Displacement, Forced Migration Review 17 is available online at:
http://www.fmreview.org/FMRpdfs/FMR17/fmr17full.pdf

Legal Issues and Resources

Plain Language Guide to Australian Refugee Law. Members of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) have written and produced online a plain language guide to Australian refugee law.
The Refugee Law Kit is available free online at http://www.alhr.asn.au/refugeekit/index.html

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has section of their website containing a wide range of resources to assist asylum seekers in the process of seeking protection in Australia. Go to http://www.alhr.asn.au/asylumseekers.html

International Journal of Refugee Law. Full text PDF from 1998, HTML abstract from 1996. Go to http://www3.oup.co.uk/reflaw/

Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. Go to http://www.law.georgetown.edu/journals/gilj/

Alternative Law Journal. Go to http://www.altlj.org

European Journal of Immigration and Law. Go to http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/1388-364X/contents

Refugee determination process.

This article explores the issues surounding DIMIA's use of language analysis in refugee determination processes.
http://www-personal.une.edu.au/~hfraser/forensic/LingID.pdf

SIEV-X

On Friday 19 October 2001, an overloaded fishing boat carrying 397 asylum seekers sank in heavy seas south of Indonesia on its way to Christmas Island. Although 120 passengers were still alive after the initial sinking, just 44 survived, after spending 20 hours in the water. There are calls for an investigation into possible Australian Government involvement in this disaster.

The Refugee Action Committee in Canberra has produced a "SIEV-X dossier" which aims to summarise the issue a 4-page dossier, in PDF format, and can be downloaded from their website at http://www.refugeeaction.org/downloads/siev-x.pdf 

SIEVX.Com is a comprehensive site devoted to discussion of this issue
http://sievx.com/

Statistics

Opinion Poll on Refugee Issues. Issued in October 2003, the JOBfutures/Saulwick Employee Sentiment Survey contains statistics regarding the views of wage and salary earners about refugee policy. A Just Australia has put out a media release commenting on this survey.

The attached table, released by A Just Australia, sets out the numbers of children still in detention in October 2003.
Contact: www.ajustaustralia.com 
Tel: 02 9310 3900

The following are statistics are from DIMIA as at 31st December 2002 for community based asylum seekers in Australia:

Responses by the Department of Immigration Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) to questions posed by the Senate Estimates Committee on February 11, 2003 have been compiled into Summary statistics from Senate Estimates Committee (in Word format). This summary was compiled by the Amnesty International Refugee Team (Refugee_Team@amnesty.org.au) . In order to view the questions please see http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/s6144.pdf (you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file)

Temporary Protection Visas (TPV)

Refugee Advice Casework Service (RACS) Fact Sheets
The TPV Know Your Rights Guide; a plain English guide to TPV holders. Part one of the guide is legal information, the second is a list of resources available to TPV holders in New South Wales. PDF format.
A list of amendments covering Migration Regulation Amendment 2003 (No.6). This can be inserted into the guide until we have a clear indication of the permanency of these changes.
A Farsi version (Dari speakers can read and write Farsi) of the first document, with a short list of resources. The Farsi version has been edited carefully to ensure that it relays the necessary information clearly.

This press release (in Word format) from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne states their position on proposed changes to the temporary protection visa system.

These fact sheets from the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) and Refugee & Immigration Legal Centre Inc (RILC) clarify points regarding the changes to regulations concerning Temporary Protection Visas.
Download: Aug 2003 Changes to TPV Laws.doc
Download: TPV info sheet - RRT - August 20031.doc
Download: TPV info sheet - recent changes - August 20031.doc

From the Refugee Action Collective Victoria - background information…
http://www.rac-vic.org/back/tpv.html

The Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) has released a set of Frequantly asked questions for current TPV holders considering applying for further protection (in Word format)

TVP information and lobbying suggestions from Oxfam. Oxfam has released an excellent summary of the situation affecting TPV holders and outlines some sensible lobbying suggestions. Go to  http://www.caa.org.au/campaigns/urgent/tpvs.html

The RAR TPV Campaign is focused on abolishing the Temporary Protection Visa and gaining permanent residence for current TPV holders. The website contains background information, campaigning resources and a clearing house for TPV information. Go to: http://www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org/template.php3?area=tpv&content=goals

A guide for TPV holders has been launched by the Immigrant Women's Speakout Association of NSW.  It comprises 2 sections.  The first section, Know Your Rights:  Facts Guide, provides information on the rights and obligations of TPV holders.  The second section, Who Can Help, is a services guide for people on TPVs in NSW only. The booklet is free.
It can be obtained from 
Contact: Immigrant Women's Speakout Association of NSW
Email  women@speakout.org.au
Web:  www.speakout.org.au
Download the Guide: http://www.law.uts.edu.au/~utsclc/pdf/TPV_guide.pdf (you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file)

The ‘ Temporary Protection , Permanent Uncertainty ’ report, which is the largest study of its kind to be published in Australia, provides a comprehensive snapshot of the experiences of TPV holders, who have been living in the community now for more than two years. The report looks at the barriers to resettlement and considers some of the strategies for addressing these issues. According to the report’s author, Dr Greg Marston, “the research findings directly implicate the TPV policy in the mental suffering and material disadvantage of refugees currently living in Australia.” Read more about the report or
Download the entire report: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/k2vavbh0g5ik.pdf
Download the executive summary in Arabic: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/1bu0rger8wzc.pdf

News

Deportation News

For a selection of news articles about deportations and the anti-deportations campaign go to: http://www.rac-qld.org/cms/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=22 

Asylum seeker news

For recent news about asylum seekers in Australia including news articles from independent media and links to other sources go to:
http://www.rac-qld.org/cms/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=18 

Refugee Action Collective News

Daily summary of news articles from print media, television and the Internet. News sources include the Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Age and ABC net. To subscribe contact the Refugee Action Collective - Victoria
www.rac-vic.org.

ZNET

Up to date information on Afghanistan, and many other countries and issues - a website for people committed to social change. You can also receive regular email updates. http://www.zmag.org/ZNET.htm

Garry Bickley

Garry Bickley in Adelaide, issues daily refugee information mail-outs. He searches the internet daily for approx 3 hours for information related to refugee issues! If you wish to receive this information, for as long as you choose, please contact him on ryei@arcom.com.au 

Refugees Daily

A global refugee news review prepared by UNHCR from publicly available media sources. It does not reflect UNHCR's views, nor can UNHCR vouch for its accuracy. For more information e-mail: AULCA@unhcr.ch 

Asylum Seekers in Australia: Recent News

Links to news items about refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. Includes news from the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the http://www.news.com.au site (numerous newspapers), The Canberra Times, and various ABC TV and radio shows.
http://www.zip.com.au/~korman/asylumnews.html

General Reports/Papers

Face the Facts - Booklet and Online Publication

An updated version of Face the Facts has been launched by the Anti-Discrimination Commission (July 2003). This publication answers common questions about refugees, asylum seekers, immigration statistics, Aboriginal land rights, native title and reconciliation. The publication looks at some of the impacts of migration on the economy, the environment and crime rates. It also outlines Australia's refugee policies and includes 2001 Census data on ethnicity. It provides clear and accurate answers to counter the myths and misinformation that often surround debate on the issues of refugees, migrants and Indigenous people. Go to www.humanrights.gov.au/racial_discrimination/face_facts/

Australia and Refugees, 1901–2002: an Annotated Chronology Based on Official Sources

This report, produced by Barry York of the Parliamentary Library, last updated on 16 June 2003, comes in two forms - a 30 page summary at http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/chron/2002-03/03chr02.htm and the full 160 page report at http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/online/Refugees_contents.htm

World Refugee Survey 2002

The U.S. Committee For Refugees has produced an authoritative annual report, reviewing refugee conditions and government policies affecting refugees and displaced person in 133 countries worldwide. It provides country reports and a variety of facts and statistics and is downloadable as PDF files.         
http://www.refugees.org/WRS2002.cfm

Refugees and the Myth of the Borderless World    

From the Department of International Relations at ANU, this publication addresses the current refugee 'crisis', the legal obligations of states and the changes in Australia's refugee policy, and whether it is justifiable or sustainable. In PDF or RTF format.
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/ir/keynotes/keynotes-02.htm
For a hard copy of this document, email Mary-Louise Hickey at marylouise.hickey@anu.edu.au . 

SEA CHANGE: Australia's New Approach to Asylum Seekers

The US Committee for Refugees (Feb 2002) presents a significant report on Australia's changing approach to asylum seekers.
http://www.refugees.org/pub/australia2.cfm

The Heart of a Nation's Existence

ChilOut (Children Out of Detention) has released its report which outlines publicly available, overwhelming and damning evidence that immigration detention centres damage children and that the previous government contractor ACM did not meet the minimum standards of its contract.
http://www.chilout.org

Psychological Well Being of Child and Adolescent Refugee and Asylum Seekers: Literature Review of Research

A submission to the HREOC National Inquiry into Children in Immigration, this paper outlines major international research findings about the psychological health of child and adolescent refugee/asylum seekers. It examines effects of pre-migration, trauma, psychological risk and other factors. Prepared by Trang Thomas and Winnie Lau.
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/children_detention/psy_review.html

RefWorld Database

On the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) website, the database provides information on country of origin and legal information for countries around the world.
To find information on Australia, go to:
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rsd
To find information on other countries, access it through the UNHCR homepage, and click on the link to RefWorld:
http://www.unhcr.ch 

By Invitation Only: Australian Asylum Policy

This report by Human Rights Watch (Sydney, December 10, 2002) challenges the Australian government's policy on asylum seekers as a breach of the country's international obligations. This is the first full report ever issued on Australia by Human Rights Watch. Available in English and Arabic
http://www.hrw.org/press/2002/12/australia1210.htm

State of the World's Refugees: Fifty Years of Humanitarian Action

Published by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), this report looks at issues facing Refugees throughout the world. It is available online in PDF format, in English, French, Italian and Russian. 
http://www.unhcr.ch/pubs/sowr2000/sowr2000toc.htm 

Deportation and the Liberal State: the forcible return of asylum seekers and unlawful migrants in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom

February 2003 Working Paper published by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). 
Access it through the Publications link on the UNHCR homepage:
http://www.unhcr.ch'

Centre for Refugee Research Reports

The Centre for Refugee Research has a number of downloadable reports available on their website. These include reports on Refugee Camps in Kakuma (Kenya), and in Thailand/Burma. 
A new report, 'You never stop being a refugee: The special needs of older refugees', is now available. 
http://www.crr.unsw.edu.au/publications
'The Truth Hurts', a booklet to dispel myths, available from the centre by emailing cenrefre@unsw.edu.au

Pacific Solution

The 'Still Drifting' report by Oxfam CAA is calling for the Australian government to acknowledge that the Pacific Solution is unsustainable, inhumane and an expensive failure based on the recommendations from their report Still Drifting. This new report is an update of developments affecting asylum seekers being processed in Nauru and PNG.
http://www.caa.org.au/campaigns/refugees/still_drifting/index.html

The 'Adrift in the Pacific' report by Oxfam CAA gives an in-depth analysis of the Pacific Solution and the Australian Government’s approach to refugee policy.  http://www.caa.org.au/campaigns/refugees/pacificsolution/index.html 

Searching for Solutions 2002

The Centre for Refugee Research and the Australian Human Rights Centre at UNSW have produced a series of thoroughly researched papers on some key refugee issues. These include the Mandatory Detention of asylum seekers, Children in Detention, Causes of Refugee Flow, Refugee definitions, Temporary Protection, People Smuggling, the Women at Risk Program and Accountability Measures in Refugee Law. 
http://www.crr.unsw.edu.au/

DIMIA Annual Report

Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs annual report. For any person intending to debate immigration and detention policies, the department's own view of its performance is essential - whether you agree with it or not. The contents lists a range of relevant topics in the debate: non-humanitarian entry and stay; refugee and humanitarian entry and stay; enforcement of immigration law; safe havens; offshore asylum seeker management. For the 2001-2002 Annual Report, click below: 
http://www.immi.gov.au/annual_report/annrep02/index.htm

Commonwealth Ombudsman Annual Report

This report, for the year 2001-02, has references to child protection policy, detention and detention centres, various forms of visas and processing, and a wide range of human rights issues. The report is available on the Internet at: www.ombudsman.gov.au  For more information, call (02) 6276 0111 e-mail: info@ombudsman.gov.au 

Refugee Review Tribunal Annual Report

Refugee Review Tribunal annual report 2001-02 [ISBN 0642 48793 6 print & ISBN 0 642 48794 4 web] is available at: www.rrt.gov.au  or call (02) 9951 5800 e-mail: rrtinfo@rrt.gov.au 

Department of Foreign Affairs Annual Report

The report discusses Australia's efforts to reduce the UN's overall budget to zero nominal growth, the range of UN commissions with which Australia has relations. The report also refers to 'people smuggling', UN conventions including those affecting weapons, the International Criminal Court, human rights and aid. DFAT's annual report is on the Internet at: www.dfat.gov./au/dept/annual_reports  and www.ausaid.gov.au/publications  or call 02 6261 3114. Comments on the report should be directed to editor.annualreport@dfat.gov.au  02 6261 3299

Right Off: The Attack on Human Rights in Australia

The Human Rights Working Group of the Federation of Community Legal Centres (Sept 2002) 
www.naclc.org.au

Protecting the Human Rights of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Internally Displaced Persons

Human Rights Watch developed this paper for the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance. The paper provides a critique of elements of the draft declaration and a programme for action.
www.hrw.org/campaigns/race/refugee.htm

Refugees & Security

The Canadian Council for Refugees provides some interesting insight into issues that Australia also faces.
http://www.web.net/~ccr/security.PDF

UNHCR Working Papers

Reports are compiled regularly on emerging issues facing refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons. Access through the Publications homepage.
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ

'Facing our Future' - online video

About Woomera

Kevin Bates - Razor Wire is Sighing - Song

General Resources

To order a copy of the handbook contact Michele Harris 'Protection' PO Box 567, Jamison, ACT 2614 harrisme@bigpond.com and request an order form.

Refugees Online website

This site, available in ten languages has been set up as a starting point for refugees, to help them make full use of the Internet in their native language. It has links to non-English resources for news, email, search engines, Internet tutorials, language dictionaries and much more. Refugees Online seeks to make the internet more accessible through providing free access and training, as well as developing some basic multilingual web-based resources. Initiated by Brisbane City Council, access points are available at the Annerley Book and Literacy Centre (part of Anglicare Refugee and Migrant Services) and the Refugee Claimants Support Centre (in Windsor).
http://www.qcoss.org.au/refugeesonline

This page looks a the range of issues guiding refugee policy. http://goasiapacific.com/specials/journeys/ 

Online Journals and Magazines

UNHCR Refugees Magazine

Quarterly publication from UNHCR. Downloadable as PDF files. Access through the Publications homepage.
http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ 

Forced Migration Review

Full text PDF downloadable articles  
http://www.fmreview.org/

New Internationalist

The June 2003 issue of New Internationalist will feature an advertisement on the Refugee Claimants Support Centre.

A monthly magazine which reports on issues of world poverty and inequality. Links to the current issue as well as to back issues.
http://www.newint.org 
The October 2002 issue focused on asylum seekers, which you can read at:
http://www.newint.org/issue350/title350.htm 

Oxfam Horizons

Quarterly publication from Oxfam Community Aid Abroad. Issues from 1995 onwards available online.
http://www.caa.org.au/horizons/

Mots Pluriels

International Review in Arts and Social Sciences. Publications are in English or French.
http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/motspluriels/

To add an item or correct an item on this page, please email Chris Gibbings admin@barc.org.au

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