Tag Archives: Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Pope Francis Denounces Resurgent Nationalism

In a recent speech to diplomats in Rome, Pope Francis defended “modern multilateral diplomacy” and international institutions against “the resurgence of nationalistic tendencies. While not identifying particular countries, Pope Francis  appeared to be lamenting the mix of jingoism and isolationism that has emerged in the United States and in European nations where populist governments have […]

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Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration is Welcomed

The Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration was finalised by UN Member States in New York in July with all UN member states except the USA approving the draft. The agreement is a “non-legally binding, cooperative framework” to encourage “international cooperation among all relevant actors on migration, acknowledging that no state can address […]

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Promoting the Dignity of Migrants and Refugees

A number of organizations including Caritas Internationalis and the Global Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children organised a recent side event at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on  migrants and refugees entitled ‘Share the Journey: Promoting the Dignity of Migrants and Refugees’. The event featured a panel led discussion, including the testimonies of […]

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First Formal Consultation on Draft of the Global Compact on Refugees

The first formal consultation in relation to the zero draft of the Global Compact on Refugees took place in New York in February. The draft has its origins in the 2016 New York Declaration when all UN member states agreed to work towards the adoption of a global agreement to improve international practice with regard […]

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Impossible to Guarantee Safety of Afghan Returnees – Report

The Edmund Rice Centre for Justice & Community Education (ERC) has been documenting the fate of rejected asylum seekers returned to Afghanistan by the Australian government since 2002. Their latest report is the continuation of ERC’s determination to investigate Australia’s most recent deportations to Afghanistan by providing an overview of Afghanistan’s current security, political, and […]

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ERI Again Raises Concerns About Australia’s Asylum Seeker Policy at the Human Rights Council

Edmund Rice International, together with Franciscans International, Destination Justice, and ChilOut organised a side event during the 31st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on the topic of Asylum Seekers Rights in Australia. Panellists included Phil Glendenning, President of the Refugee Council of Australia and Director of the Edmund Rice Centre in Sydney, Mohammad […]

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Advocating for the Rights of Migrants

ERI recently joined more that 30 other NGOs in signing an Open letter to the European Commission,the European Parliament and EU Member States urging the inclusion of migrants and migration-related targets in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Although 232 million migrants contribute to the economic and social well-being of their countries of origin/heritage and […]

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Australian Edmund Rice Schools Unite to Protest Asylum Policy that Detains Children

Students from thirty Edmund Rice schools around Australia recently took part in a protest against the detention of hundreds of children as part of Australia’s harsh asylum seeker policy. The ‘detention for detention’ protest was co-ordinated by Edmund Rice Advocacy for Change  an umbrella group representing Edmund Rice Schools in Australia and supported by ERI. […]

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Asylum Seekers in Australia – Joint Statement at UN

The following joint statement by Franciscans International & Edmund Rice International was delivered at the 27th Session of the UN Human Rights Council: “Franciscans International and Edmund Rice International welcome the report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, especially regarding the detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants. We commend the view of the […]

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Human Rights Committee Determines 46 Refugees Should be Released

The Human Rights Committee (HRC) has concluded that 46 recognised refugees facing indefinite detention in Australia due to adverse security assessments should be released and offered compensation and rehabilitation. The group includes 42 Tamils from Sri Lanka, three Rohingya from Myanmar and a Kuwaiti. Separately they arrived in Australia between March 2009 and December 2010 […]

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