By ALANA MITCHELSON
A local refugee group has called for an end to Australia’s “cruel” policies on refugees so Canberra can “respect and uphold” the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Geelong Refugee Vigil Group put signs along the window sill of federal MP Richard Marles on International Human Rights Day while calling for a “more humane, compassionate policy” on refugees.
The group of activists from across the Corangamite and Corio electorates demanded the immediate release of all detained children to community care before Christmas and the closure of all detention centres.
Refugee activist Jenny Wills said Australia had a “moral obligation” to observe the UDHR as a signatory to the declaration.
She was disappointed parliament failed to consider the issue at its last sitting.
“Our vigil condemns the vilification of refugees by politicians and officials and the incarceration of refugees in detention centres, both onshore and offshore.”
The vigil group formed after a Combined Refugee Action Group meeting early last year at Geelong West Town Hall.
“The event was packed out,” Ms Wills said.
“It’s an indication of the feeling in Geelong about the issue.”
Ms Wells said the declaration had special significance to Australians because H.V. Evatt, Australia’s Attorney General and Minister for External Affairs at the time, was president of the United Nations General Assembly during the late 1940s after World War II when the declaration was adopted.
“It was a promotion of peace, equality and justice for all peoples, following the carnage and horrors of World War II,” she said.
“We believe the government has contravened the declaration, especially with the treatment of vulnerable people seeking refuge in Australia.
“They have been vilified, demonised, detained and branded illegals by our governments, but not in our names.”
Refugee activist Geraldine Moyle said the refugees situation had gone “from bad to worse”.
“It needs to change,” she said.
“I think most Australians would change their minds if they spoke to someone who has been a refugee. I know personally that refugees in local schools have changed a lot of people’s minds.”
The group said it had been gathering outside the offices of Mr Marles and Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson since March last year, alternating sites each week. The group planned to continue its rallies into the new year.
