Asylum Seekers and refugeesAishaMulligan 17354266

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS WEEK 12

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When movements become a force of change

• Protest movements have played a large role in history, especially those that humanised our society

• Such movements include the black freedom movement in America that confronted the system and led to their government passing the legislation that implemented the promises of the reconstruction period.

• The Vietnam antiwar movement brought the war in Southeast Asia to an end.

• The woman's movement and the gay liberation movement won legal rights and saw the American social life and culture transform.

• During 2002 hundreds of committed social activists protested Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers which aided in closing the Woomera detention centre.

(Piven, 2008, p.2)

2

Detention of asylum seekers in Australia

• Under the Migration Act 1958, asylum seekers who come into Australia and do not have a valid visa must be held in immigration detention centres. They are held here until they are removed from Australia or granted a visa.

• In 2012 the Australia Government introduced a third country processing system for asylum seekers who arrive by boat. These people are transferred to a third country unless they are exempt by the Minister for Immigration and Border Security.

• The two third countries where the asylum seekers are sent to are Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

• Asylum seekers who arrive unauthorised by boat but are granted permission to stay in Australia, have their claims processed under Australian Law. Those who are sent to a third country have their claims processed under that particular countries laws.

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Woomera detention centre Woomera immigration detention centre was build on a

defence site in South Australia in the middle of the desert, a two hour drive from Port Augusta.

It was opened in 1999 by the Howard Government and was closed in 2003 after numerous protests.

The center housed close to 1500 asylum seekers, including 500 children.

The Woomera refugee and asylum seeker centre breached many human rights laws. Many detainees were mistreated including being mentally and physically abused.

Studies confirm children were being raped, women were being administered vaccinations while pregnant and others were miscarrying and not provided any medical assistance.

The treatment of the detainees began a social movement to campaign against Australia’s system of mandatory detention.

Woomera social movement • In 2002 the detainees participated in a hunger strike; over 30

people including children sewed their lips together. Some started to drink shampoo in a suicide attempt. They wanted their voices to be heard.

• With no action taken and no response from the government the detainees became frustrated and angry which in turn resulted in people rioting with one detainee hopitalised after jumping off a roof.

• During Easter 2002 direct action was taken when protesters arrived at the detention center and broke down 30 meters of fence.

• Some detainees escaped while others were arrested by police.• ACM guards became aggressive and started beating people and

throwing them over the fence.• Police and guards surrounded the place with no escape and the

situation was contained and the centre went back to normal.

(Fernandez, 2013)

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Champion of Change

FREEDOM SEEKERHOPE SEEKERSECURITY SEEKER

LIFE SEEKERASYLUM SEEKER

http://www.asrc.org.au/about-us/

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Reference List

• Bebe, L. (2002). Detention of asylum seekers in Australia. The Lancet, 359, 792-793.

• Fernandez, R. (2013, May, 5). 10th year anniversary of the closure of the notorious Woomera detention centre. Asian-Australian arts and culture. Retrieved from http://peril.com.au/blog/politics/10th-year-anniversary-of-the-closure-of-the-notorious-woomera-detention-centre/

• Piven, F. (2008). Can power from below change the world? American sociological review, 73, 1-14.

 • Skeers, J. (2013, June, 3). Australia: staff expose inhuman conditions at Woomera detention centre. World socialist web site. Retrieved from http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2003/06/woom-j03.html

Picture reference list by picture number

1. Global Research, http://www.globalresearch.ca/imperial-globalization-and-social-movements-in-latin-america/15718, 2014, May, 22.

2. BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1900482.stm, 2014, May, 22.

3. Right Now, http://rightnow.org.au/topics/asylum-seekers/the-economic-cost-of-our-asylum-seeker-policy/, 2014, May, 22.

4. Prospero Productions, http://www.prospero.com.au/productions/the-man-who-jumped, 2014, May 23.

5. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, http://www.asrc.org.au, 2014, May, 24.

6. ABC, http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2012/08/10/3565015.htm, 2014, May 20.