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[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 2908 - AUSTRALIA - 12 March 2002

Children forgotten in Furore

[Anglican Media Sydney on behalf of National Anglican Refugee Working Group]
The Anglican Church is concerned that the children who were rescued from the
water in September have become forgotten in the political furore. These
children and their families' suffering continues as part of the "Pacific
Solution". They have been in detention on Nauru or in PNG for almost 6
months. What is their future to be?

"These children were rescued from a sinking vessel. Now they are still
unsure of their future, and subjected to additional trauma," said Archbishop
Ian George, Chair of the National Anglican Refugee Working Group. "We are
particularly worried about the detention of children, and especially the
lack of educational opportunities for those over primary school age."

"We are also concerned about the inordinate length of time taken in the
processing of refugee applications for asylum. People are held in detention,
both in Australia and overseas, for far too long," the Archbishop added.

Australians are generous people and over many decades have welcomed refugees
to settle into the Australian community. Those refugees have made a great
contribution to our national life.

Successive governments, on a bipartisan basis, have maintained an annual
programme of acceptance of refugees into our immigration numbers. Churches
have been involved for over 50 years in resettlement programmes with the
government. The Anglican Church is disappointed that the reshaped
Commonwealth refugee resettlement programme, now known as the Integrated
Humanitarian Settlement Scheme, has resulted in less participation by church
volunteers. Ordinary Australians are not being sufficiently resourced to do
this work.

The Christian churches in Australia have consistently supported the
acceptance of refugees into the community. We are moved to welcome people
who seek refuge from situations of persecution, war and hunger by biblical
teaching and Christian theology. Christians are reminded that the Scriptures
say, for example, "when an alien lives with you in your land, do not
mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your
native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt" (Leviticus
19:33-34).

People in desperate need require a generous response. This is part of
Australia's international obligations under the UN Convention on Refugees
and other international humanitarian law.

The National Anglican Working Group calls upon the Government to rethink:

- The system of mandatory detention and the location, management style and
ethos of the detention centres.

- The inordinate length of the processing of refugee applications for
asylum.

- The detention of children, many of whom are unaccompanied minors, through
this long process.

- The educational opportunities offered to these children, especially those
over primary school age.

- The health services offered in detention, especially to women and
children.

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