| The Assembly has responded to the
needs seven million refugees whose lives have been put on hold in
refugee “warehouses” and agreed to join an international
campaign to end the practice.
UnitingJustice National Director, the Rev. Elenie Poulos presented
a telling report to the July meeting of the Assembly Standing Committee,
highlighting the uncertainty and lack of security for seven million
refugees who have been warehoused in camps for ten years and more.
Rev. Poulos said the Uniting Church has a proud history of advocating
for the rights of refugees stemming from its God given belief in
the dignity and value of all human life and its commitment to justice
as expressed in the 1977 Statement to the Nation.
“These refugees find themselves in a long-lasting, intractable
state of limbo, their basic rights and needs unfulfilled for years
as they wait for their claims to be assessed and a resettlement
place to be found for them. They have no freedom of movement, no
right to work, no access to state services and often, no education.
A third generation is now being born in some camps.
“The practice of warehousing infringes the basic human rights
and freedoms of vast populations of human beings. Long-term confinement
in camps is a damaging and violent experience for many refugees,
most particularly for vulnerable women and children. It deprives
refugees of autonomy, and of the ability to move toward a better
life,” Rev. Poulos said.
The Standing Committee resolved to condemn the practice of warehousing,
endorse the international campaign to end its practice and work
for the immediate restoration of people’s rights. Information
and action resources will be developed to assist members and congregations
who would like to join the campaign.
More information on refugee warehousing can be found at nat.uca.org.au/unitingjustice
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