Walk for Justice for Refugees

 Humanists Victoria supports the 2022 Melbourne Walk for Justice and Freedom for Refugees, on Palm Sunday 10 April, at 2pm, commencing at the State Library (music from 1.30pm).

People from all faith groups, community organisations and unions are invited to join the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees, bringing banners and other messages of support in solidarity with refugees and people seeking asylum.   After our speakers, including the Rev Tim Costello AO, a speaker with lived experience of living on a Temporary Protection Visa, and a panel of faith speakers, the Walk will proceed to the Park Hotel, where around 30 refugees are still imprisoned.  There will be an address from one of the refugees still held in the hotel, and Arnold Zable, then more music, and a wrap-up speaker.

Please share the Facebook event https://fb.me/e/11WCiGAAy

Across the country people will be turning out on Palm Sunday to support Justice for Refugees.  Let’s work together to make sure the Walk in Melbourne is bigger than ever, to demonstrate the growing concern across the community about the harsh and punitive treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.

Key messaging for the Walk in Melbourne this year is:   Justice & Freedom for Refugees – End Detention, Permanent Visas, Safe and Secure Futures

Australia’s treatment of refugees continues to be cruel and unjust:

• Around 30,000 people have been on Bridging Visas for many years in the community, with uncertain future. A significant number of these people, including their families, face destitution, as the government has withdrawn income and housing support; most of these vulnerable people have difficulty getting full-time employment, having been denied the right to work for many years.  Our Government is still not offering permanent protection to the children and their families being brought here from Nauru in 2018 – so their uncertainty continues.
• Hundreds of people remain in detention across Australia, including the 18 Medevac refugees still held in the Park Hotel in Carlton.
• After nearly nine years, around 250 people are still stranded on Nauru and in PNG, with no prospects for permanent resettlement – the New Zealand resettlement offer needs to be accepted to provide safe futures for these people.
• Thousands of people are stuck on limbo on Temporary visas and SHEV visas – even though they are refugees and should have been permanently resettled here years ago.  Children of refugees have grown up here, but still do not have a secure future.

Instead of punishing refugees as we currently do, Australia could be offering safe resettlement and could treat people who seek our protection with dignity, fairness and compassion. Australia should have a more generous approach to refugees and work with regional neighbours to create safe pathways for people fleeing persecution and war.

Support the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice and Freedom for Refugees, and stand up for justice, decency and compassion!