With all the secrecy surrounding the plight of refugees and asylum seekers detained on Manus Island and Nauru it is difficult to know what is happening. So its great to have a resource like The Safe Harbour InfoBites to refer to. It provides snapshots of information regarding people seeking asylum, refugees and offshore processing of people on Nauru and Manus Island.
Maura who carefully compiled the information from a range of credible sources encourages you to read and share this information widely. The more who know the better! Download your copy here. Note though that the statistics quoted in the document are current as at January 2019 but are likely to change with some of the people detained on Manus Island or Nauru being shifted to PNG or Australia for medical treatment.
To find out more or take action here are some starting suggestions:
Finding out more
Reports
- Until when? The forgotten men on Manus Island, a report by Amnesty International Australia and the Refugee Council of Australia, available from www.refugeecouncil.org.au, published November 2018
- Australia’s man-made crisis on Nauru: Six years on, a report by the Refugee Council of Australia and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, available from www.refugeecouncil.org.au, published September 2018
- Indefinite despair: The tragic mental health consequences of offshore processing on Nauru, a report by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders), available from www.msf.org.au, published December 2018
Other art-related projects supporting refugees and people seeking asylum
- Writing through fences at www.writingthroughfences.org
All we can’t see: illustrating the Nauru files at www.allwecantsee.com
Getting involved: joining or supporting a local group
- Safe Harbour Australia, on Facebook or by emailing Mij Tanith
- Adelaide Vigil for Manus and Nauru, on Facebook or through their website at www.adelaidevigil.com
- Justice for Refugees SA, on Facebook or through their website at www.justiceforrefugeessa.org
- Circle of Friends, contact us for more information on how to get involved.
Getting involved: asking politicians to represent your views in their work
- To contact your local Member and Senators, the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, see the list on the Parliament of Australia website at https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members
- For tips on contacting politicians by phone, see the Adelaide Vigil for Manus and Nauru website at www.adelaidevigil.com
- For tips on contacting politicians by letter, see the Refugee Council of Australia website at www.refugeecouncil.org.au/take-action/contacting-politicians