{"id":665273,"date":"2022-07-07T14:27:53","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T04:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org.au\/?p=665273"},"modified":"2024-07-11T13:20:53","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T03:20:53","slug":"human-rights-wip-july-2022-gameover-religious-discrimination-bill-bernardo-and-nazanin-are-free-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org.au\/human-rights-wip-july-2022-gameover-religious-discrimination-bill-bernardo-and-nazanin-are-free-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Wins: #GameOver, Religious Discrimination Bill shelved, Bernardo and Nazanin are free, and more"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When ordinary people stand up for freedom, equality and justice, we move closer to a world where human rights are enjoyed by all \u2014<\/strong> it’s a work in progress. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Amnesty International Australia’s (AIA) supporters, we’ve achieved some incredible wins in the first half of 2022. Whether you help provide lifesaving relief, raise awareness, or put pressure on the governments in charge, every action you take is helping drive our nationwide advocacy campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some example of our human rights impact from Australia for refugee rights<\/a>, LGBTQIA+ rights<\/a>, First Nations justice<\/a> and individuals at risk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historic progress for refugee rights in Australia <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is finally #GameOver<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In March 2022, the Australian Government accepted New Zealand\u2019s long-standing offer of resettling refugees trapped in Australia\u2019s cruel offshore detention regime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, when we started the #GameOver campaign<\/a>, more than 600 people were still trapped offshore. Today, there are just over 200 people still detained in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. With these announcements, these people – left in limbo offshore by the Australian Government\u2019s brutal offshore detention policy – will now have the opportunity to restart their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is absolutely a historical moment in Australia. The power of people is stronger than politicians. The government couldn\u2019t resist this powerful pressure. Our consistency made this happen.<\/p>\nMostafa (Moz) Azimitabar, human rights activist and former refugee held in offshore detention<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Accepting the New Zealand offer is a small step to recovering Australia\u2019s humanity, and allowing refugees to live in safety and get on with their lives. Your compassion and persistence made this possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remaining refugees released from APODs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In April 2022, the remaining refugees released from Alternative Places of Detention (APODs), including the notorious Park Hotel in Melbourne. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approximately 200 refugees trapped offshore were transferred back to Australia for medical treatment. Here they were trapped again in run-down hotels, with no access to the outside world. Now, they are living within the community that called for their freedom. Now, our fight continues for a long-term solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsorship program has been reformed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the final days of 2021, we welcomed the announcement<\/a> from Immigration Minister Hawke of an expanded and improved refugee sponsorship program that significantly reduces the costs of sponsorship for a family of four people, and a commitment for an increase in the program to 10,000 places, and increase in places to almost 6,000 over the next three years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAfter presenting the support of 40,000 Australians, from 40 communities and their local governments calling for a fairer refugee sponsorship program to our political leaders Amnesty welcomes the new pilot scheme and the improved CSP\u201d.<\/p>\nShankar Kasynathan, former AIA refugee campaigner<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

AIA’s My New Neighbour campaign, born in response to the world’s refugee crisis<\/a>, was recognised by the Minister as a key factor in delivering this outcome. Community sponsorship \u2013 where everyday people in the community contribute towards the cost of resettling a refugee \u2013 enables families to rebuild their lives in safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increased the refugee and humanitarian intake<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since 2020, Australia has reduced its annual humanitarian intake by 5,000 places each year. The intake is already at its lowest in decades. As world crises like Ukraine, Afghanistan and Myanmar escalate, Australia has the capacity to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of AIA’s responsive campaign work, our Amnesty researchers verified<\/a> the Russian military’s violations of the laws of war and over 15,000 supporters called for Australia to welcome more Ukrainians seeking safety. Similarly, news articles about our research in Afghanistan, like this one<\/a>, were seen over 260,000,000 times, and more than 42,000 people took action calling for Australia to provide safe passage to people fleeing the Taliban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2022, AIA campaigners stood alongside representatives of communities from Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Ukraine at Parliament house to urge for additional humanitarian places for people seeking safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our supporters’ compassionate actions plus AIA’s advocacy with communities has been recognised by the Home Affairs and Immigration Ministers and resulted in: <\/p>\n\n\n\n