Nearly 200,000 people have called for Action for Afghanistan – Launching a Week of Action
Over 9,000 academics, community leaders, human rights advocates, lawyers, doctors, and civil society representatives have signed an open letter, led by the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network (AAAN), to urgently call on Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, to take concrete steps to support people from Afghanistan.
Following this over 180,000 people have signed a petition in support of the group’s call.
Following an online briefing last week, which saw more than 600 people dial in across the nation in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, a Week of Action has been called to urge the Australian Government to take concrete action to support those affected by the crisis.
The Week of Action aims to build public awareness and hopefully gain a political commitment to ensure the calls for support of the people of Afghanistan are met.
“Our calls have been very clear, there are 4 key asks that Australia could commit to right now. The community in Australia has spoken and they want Action for Afghanistan.”
Shabnam Safa, Chair of National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group
The Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network has been joined by other groups including the faith based organisations and NGOs across Australia in calling for this Action.
“We are so heartened by the response in our community. The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum is hosting a Call to Prayer & Webinar, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is hosting a calling party. Around Australia it will be heard that people want Action”.
Zaki Haidari is a refugee from Afghanistan, and a leadership co-ordinator at the Jesuit Refugee Service.
“Across Australia communities recognise that after 20 years of intervention and promises, the Australian government has a moral obligation to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It is time for the Australian government to step up, and take immediate steps to alleviate the suffering of people of Afghanistan.”
Arif Hussein, Human Rights Lawyer, Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS)
The Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network is calling for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to help at-risk groups and to ease the suffering of the Afghan people by taking the following 4 immediate steps:
1. Committing to an additional humanitarian intake of at least 20,000 prioritising the most vulnerable persecuted people, identified above, similar to Canada’s announcement on 14 August 2021 accepting 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan, and similar to Australia’s response to the Syrian conflict in 2015 in accepting 12,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees.
2. Granting permanent protection to more than 5,100 refugees from Afghanistan, predominantly from the historically persecuted Hazara ethnic groups, who are currently on temporary protection visas in Australia.
3. Prioritising the family reunification visas of people from Afghanistan in Australia, including those who are prevented from reuniting with their families due to a government ministerial directive that requires the Department of Home Affairs deprioritise family reunion of hundreds of people in Australia.
4. Lifting the ban on resettlement of refugees to Australia through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia, a ban which has been in place since 2014. This ban continues to limit resettlement options for 10,000 refugees from Afghanistan awaiting safety and protection.
About the AAAN
The Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network is made up of people from diverse ethnic and religious groups which form the Afghanistan-Australian community. They are academics, lawyers, health workers, advocates, community workers, tradespeople and educators, who came to Australia as refugees, as children of refugees, and migrants.
Media contact:
Emma Davies (RACS)
emma.davies@racs.org.au