World Human Rights Day: A Call to Action for Justice and Equality

Today is World Human Rights Day—a day to remember a powerful promise made to the world: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This important document enshrines the foundations that everyone, no matter their race, colour, religion, gender, language, beliefs, nationality, or background, has the basic rights and freedoms they deserve as a human being.

This year’s theme, Our rights, our future, right now, focuses on how human rights are a pathway to solutions, as they play a critical role as a preventative, protective, and transformative force for good, particularly in times of crises.

Today, that message remains ever-present in our hearts and minds. Having just spent time in Parliament and witnessing three brutal new laws pass, life will become more dangerous and more uncertain for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum.

Despite their election promise of fairer and more compassionate migration policies, these new laws will put people at risk of deportation, separate families, and cut people off from their lifeline by confiscating mobile phones from people in detention.

Right now, the human rights of people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia are under attack.

Our priority right now is wrapping around the communities we work with, who will be left reeling by these laws.

From here on, it’s more important than ever that we come together, support one another, and continue to fight for the values of welcome and diversity that Australia holds so close.

This World Human Rights Day, we call on you to stand with us as human rights defenders for all refugees and people seeking asylum in this country.

Right now, we are fighting for dozens of refugees trapped in PNG and Nauru for a decade, demanding they be brought here to safety.

Right now, we are standing with 8,000+ people still in limbo ten years later, waiting for permanency and protection.

Right now—on World Human Rights Day—we are demanding from the Albanese government and all elected representatives that they stop the politics of fear and division and work towards a fairer and more compassionate Australia, in line with what our community demands. 

Because all refugees and people seeking asylum have the fundamental right to be seen, to be valued, to wake up with a purpose in this country, to contribute, and to be able to build a safe new future for their families and children.

Thank you for continuing to fight for justice, equality, and welcome for all.

If you would like to stand with us on World Human Rights Day, you can give to our End of Year appeal today.