August 2016 Bulletin
CATHOLIC ALLIANCE FOR PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM
AUGUST 2016 BULLETIN
MIGRANT & REFUGEE WEEK SPECIAL
We believe that together we CAN make a difference, starting with small acts of kindness and hospitality and becoming a collective voice demanding more compassionate asylum seeker policies.
#Naurufiles reveal extent of horrors at island detention centre
The Guardian’s comprehensive report,
revealing over 2000 incidents of abuse, self-harm and sexual assault on
Nauru, half-of-which involved children, is a harsh reminder of the
horrific treatment by the Australian government of innocent people
seeking asylum.
A number of Catholic organisations responded to the abuses, as
pressure builds on Malcolm Turnbull to address this stain on our nation.
CAPSA has called for a Royal Commission into human rights abuses on Nauru. Jesuit Social Services joined the cry to #BringThemHere and the Sisters of St Joseph asked Malcolm Turnbull to grant amnesty to the men on Manus Island, who must now be resettled, and called for a National Summit for policy alternatives.
We encourage you to sign GetUp’s petition to #BringThemHere.
Migrant & Refugee Week 22 – 28 August
Migrant & Refugee Week is an annual to event for Catholics to
express solidarity for migrants and refugee who are facing injustice.
Our friends at the Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office have
a produced a great kit with messages, prayers and posters.
CAPSA is facilitating solidarity circles of silence
(pictured above) in public places around the country. We encourage you
to stand in silence for up to an hour in public places to mark Migrant
& Refugee Sunday.
You can find your local event, or host one, here.
Standing in Solidarity – National Day of Prayer & Action
During National Child Protection Week (September 4-10) more than 100 Catholic schools
around the country will take action, speak out and pray for the
injustice faced by people seeking asylum, in particular children, from
the Australian government. Please share pictures and messages you see
throughout the week.
We will be using the hashtags: #BringThemHere #refugeeswelcome
If your school is participating, please let us know the details of your event and how we can support you via this form. You can still take the pledge to be involved as well.
Recommended reading & viewing
More Abuse Uncovered on Nauru, So Who’s Responsible? – Julie Edwards – Pro Bono
What It’s Like in Solitary Confinement on Manus Island – Behrouz Boochani – Huffington Post
Nauru Teachers Speak Out for Children: ‘We don’t have to torture them’ – Paul Farrell & Josh Wall – The Guardian
Labor MP to renew cross-party push for a more humane asylum seeker policy – Katherine Murphy – The Guardian
The Nauru files provide the evidence. Malcolm Turnbull can never plead ignorance – William Maley – The Guardian
#LoveMakesAWay protests at MP offices – Various – The Guardian Eye-Witness
Pope Francis Refuses to Associate Islam with Violence – Massimo Faggiolo – Huffington Post
Corinne Grant on Q&A – #BringThemHere