On April 17, Palestinian prisoners in Israel launched a hunger strike in protest of the conditions under which they were held. The strike was ended after 40 days, when the Israeli government offered a partial agreement to their terms. The following statement was issued in solidarity with what came to be known as the Dignity […]
Haaretz 18 May 2017. On Sunday 14 May, 12 South African ministers and deputy ministers started a 24-hour hunger strike as an act of solidarity with the striking Palestinian prisoners, in an attempt to increase economic and political pressure on Israel. This was initiated successfully by the Kathrada Foundation, named after late Apartheid fighter Ahmed […]
By Sivan Barak. Every Friday night for the past 60 weeks I’ve driven out of the ‘ghetto’, over the river, just 32 km south, to the far away land of Broadmeadows. It’s a weekly participation in a macabre ritual, the antithesis to Melbourne’s dubious title, ‘most livable city’. During these visits I witness what I can only […]
By Jordy Silverstein On March 25 2004 it was reported by the Hobart Mercury that “immigration minister Amanda Vanstone said yesterday she had received letters from primary school children calling her a racist pig.” Apparently, “she said she was not offended by the abusive letters but annoyed children had been influenced to write such things.” […]
Last year Behrouz Boochani wrote in the Guardian about arriving in Manus Island: “Twenty-eight months ago, with a shattered body which was ravenously hungry and deeply wounded, with bare feet and exhausted soul, I made the trip to the soil of free territory, to Australia. It was four days after the announcing the 19th of […]
The AJDS recently distributed the following letter widely. Among our recipients were Malcolm Turnbull, Josh Frydenberg, Michael Danby, Mark Dreyfus, Mike Freelander, Stirling Griff, Peter Dutton and Shayne Neumann. We implore these parliamentarians to vote against proposed legislation that will make Australia’s asylum seeker policy even more cruel than it already is. We’ll keep you posted […]
We share with you the following initiative from Love Makes a Way: Join us in a Powerful Act of Truth-Telling! Can you sense change is coming? In response to the #NauruFiles, refugee advocates from all different organisations have been holding vigils, rallies and peaceful acts of civil disobedience to let the Government and Opposition know […]
Like many around the country, members of the AJDS were appalled watching the Four Corners episode last Monday which told the stories of the brutality of Don Dale prison. Although these stories have been previously reported on and shared – particularly by Aboriginal peoples, groups, and media – it was this airing which captured the […]
In case you missed Shen Narayanasamy’s inspiring talk at the AJDS 2015 annual dinner, you can watch it here and learn about No Business In Abuse. Apologies for the missing minute towards the end of her talk. Return to recent posts.
The following statement was issued 13 February 2015, and is co-signed by AJDS. You can download the pdf here. NEVER AGAIN: LET’S END THE DETENTION OF CHILDREN ONCE AND FOR ALL The report of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention provides compelling evidence of the need for Australia to […]