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A campaign for the Release of refugees from detention and their safe resettlement 

  • Suggestions for actions and activities, including suggestions for social media 
  • Background information on the issues   
  • Suggestions for letter writing and lobbying 
  • Seeking ambassadors for the campaign  

It’s Time for Us to Come Together to End Detention: #Time For A Home!

After 7 long years of toxic politics and punitive policies hundreds of people continue to be held in immigration detention – in community facilities, in prison-like conditions and offshore in PNG and Nauru. The Morrison government must free these women, men and children, quickly resettle them into our community, and enable them to be safe, supported and have a place to call home. 

  • Suggestions for actions and activities, including suggestions for social media 
  • Background information on the issues   
  • Suggestions for letter writing and lobbying 
  • Seeking ambassadors for the campaign  

It’s Time for Us to Come Together to End Detention: #Time For A Home!

After 7 long years of toxic politics and punitive policies hundreds of people continue to be held in immigration detention – in community facilities, in prison-like conditions and offshore in PNG and Nauru. The Morrison government must free these women, men and children, quickly resettle them into our community, and enable them to be safe, supported and have a place to call home. 

The Australian Refugee Action Network is represented on the working group for the #Time For A Home campaign which is seeking to mobilise people across Australia in a united effort to secure freedom and safe settlement for refugees and people seeking asylum. In addition to ARAN, the campaign co-ordinating group includes Amnesty International Australia, Human Rights Law Centre, QLD Community Alliance/RSM, ASRC, Refugee Advice & Casework Service, GetUp! and Refugee Council of Australia.

The #Time For A Home campaign was launched on November 5 with this media release

If you have not already, sign up your group to join the 100+ other groups partnering in this campaign. Please also encourage other community groups and organisations to sign on also. 

HOW WILL YOUR GROUP SUPPORT THE #Time For A Home #Free the Refugees CAMPAIGN ? 

The refugee justice movement is stronger when we work together.  Join this campaign to end detention and secure freedom for refugees held in immigration detention. 

The campaign will be ongoing into 2021 until we see the release of refugees from detention.    The INITIAL PERIOD OF ACTION is 3-13 December, linking the campaign with the passage of the Medevac legislation (Dec 3) and International Human Rights Day (10 December).   See a listing of events here:   https://www.timeforahome.com.au/upcoming-events

Time to get active and join groups around Australia in support of this campaign      

HOW WILL YOUR GROUP SUPPORT THE #Time For A Home #Free the Refugees CAMPAIGN ? 

The refugee justice movement is stronger when we work together.  Join this campaign to end detention and secure freedom for refugees held in immigration detention. 

The campaign will be ongoing into 2021 until we see the release of refugees from detention.    The INITIAL PERIOD OF ACTION is 3-13 December, linking the campaign with the passage of the Medevac legislation (Dec 3) and International Human Rights Day (10 December).   See a listing of events here:   https://www.timeforahome.com.au/upcoming-events

Time to get active and join groups around Australia in support of this campaign      

  • Hold a vigil outside your local MPs’ office 
  • Hold regular protests at key locations – intersections, main roads, peak hour protests…. anywhere people will see you and see the message
  • Set up an information stall in your community – create a postcard, invite passers-by to sign the ARAN Petition  #Time For A Home #Free the Refugees     
  • Hold a ‘Write for Rights’ event or have a stall at a community event
  • Write to your local MP and relevant ministers – see below suggested key points 
  • Write letters to your local newspaper 
  • Form an ‘Article 14 of the Human Rights Declaration’ delegation to visit your local MP – ‘everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution”
  • Get creative – host a ‘Celebration of Resilience & Kindness’ evening with artists, speakers and storytellers – raise awareness about the ongoing detention of refugees and people seeking asylum – email ARAN austrefugeenetwork@gmail.com if you need ideas for speakers  

Templates for your promotions can be found here 

Simple templates for your promotions:
Template 1
Template 2

Register your action on the #Time For A Home website by completing the form here  

You can also let us know using the ARAN Contact Form to list your action on the ARAN website    

Social Media

RELEVANT MEDIA ARTICLES

BACKGROUND INFORMATION  

  • A powerful VICE article interviewing the incredible Betelhem Tibebu. 
  • Andrew Wilkie MP speaking about #TimeForAHome in Parliament, calling on the Government to end indefinite detention and for the community to get behind the campaign. 
  • Recent polling conducted by Essential Media showed that the majority of Australians agree that those found to be refugees should be released immediately.  

Since 2013 Australia has held thousands of people in harsh conditions in detention in Nauru and PNG.  Most of these people are recognised by the UNHCR to be refugees.  What has happened to these people? 

  • More than 200 young men are being detained in closed immigration detention centres and so called ‘alternative places of detention’ such as the Mantra and Kangaroo Point hotels – now for over 12 months.
  • Over 1000 women, men and children were transferred to Australia for critical medical treatment (including those brought as a result of the Kids Off Nauru campaign).  Most of these people have been living in community detention for years, and have recently been cast into the community on Bridging Visas, with no income support, and limited employment prospects.  Australia is refusing to grant them permanent visas, even though they are refugees. 
  • Over 290 people are still in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, and though no longer in detention, they have no safe resettlement option. Australia is still refusing to take up the offer by New Zealand to resettle these people.
  • Over 800 people have been resettled in the United States. 

SUGGESTED POINTS FOR LETTERS & LOBBYING MPs

Just some ideas to get you started.

  • These people came to Australia seeking safety and a secure future for themselves and their families – they are keen to make a contribution to our community.  

You could also consider using the FB memes or other images in your email.  

SEEKING AMBASSADORS FOR THE CAMPAIGN  

Do you know someone with public profile who might like to publicly support this campaign?    Contact Marie Hapke on info@refugeeadvocacynetwork.org.au  or Jana Favero at ASRC jana.f@asrc.org.au.