10:01
Part 2/2: UN High Commissioner for Refugees: Protect Human Rights of Refugees in the US
Part 2/2: UN High Commissioner for Refugees: Protect Human Rights of Refugees in the US
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres speaks about the need to protect the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers in the United States, including those detained by the Department of Homeland Security. The keynote speech was delivered during the 10th Annual Midwest Light of Human Rights Awards, a benefit for Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center, on June 19, 2009, in Chicago, IL.
9:31
Part 1/2: UN High Commissioner for Refugees: Protect Human Rights of Refugees in the US
Part 1/2: UN High Commissioner for Refugees: Protect Human Rights of Refugees in the US
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres speaks about the need to protect the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers in the United States, including those detained by the Department of Homeland Security. The keynote speech was delivered during the 10th Annual Midwest Light of Human Rights Awards, a benefit for Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center, on June 19, 2009, in Chicago, IL.
10:38
Australia's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers: Penelope Mathew, ANU
Australia's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers: Penelope Mathew, ANU
Australias handling of the asylum-seekers on board the Oceanic Viking and recent 'freeze' on Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum applications has sparked vigorous and ongoing debate. In this interview ahead of her inaugural lecture as the Freilich Foundation Professor, Penelope Mathew looks at Australias past and present policies against the backdrop of global refugee movements and makes some suggestions for steps that could be undertaken. The full lecture can be viewed on ANUchannel at: www.youtube.com Professor Mathew has taught at the law schools of the University of Melbourne, The Australian National University and The University of Michigan, US. She has published widely in the areas of international law, human rights and refugee law. Her main area of expertise is refugee law and she has worked with and for refugees in many capacities. In 2008, she was presented with an International Womens Day award by the ACT government for her outstanding contribution to human rights and social justice.
5:15
Asylum Seeker Talks About Immigration Detention
Asylum Seeker Talks About Immigration Detention
Every year, the US detains more than 230000 immigrants in detention centers and county jails throughout the country. Ten to 13 percent of these detainees are asylum seekers. In this video, an asylum seeker from Cameroon describes how her baby was taken from her and she was jailed when she arrived at a US airport and asked for help.
7:10
Coming to America: An Asylum Seeker's Story
Coming to America: An Asylum Seeker's Story
www.humanrightsfirst.org - Through the Asylum Legal Representation Program at Human Rights First, volunteer lawyers have the unique opportunity to change the lives of refugees by helping them win asylum in the United States. Our programs clients have fled from political, religious, ethnic, and gender-based persecution in countries plagued by human rights violations. They cannot afford counsel and desperately need representation. Volunteer lawyers learn about international human rights law and have the chance to represent individual clients at an asylum interview or a hearing before an immigration judge.
1:52
Know the Truth About Immigrant Detention in the US
Know the Truth About Immigrant Detention in the US
Americans take pride in our history as a refuge for men, women, and children escaping war and torture. We also take pride in a justice system that guarantees us the right to a fair hearing. The US immigration detention system betrays these ideals when it locks up immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers and denies them access to legal counsel and other basic human rights. Our elected officials in Washington DC must know that we expect more from our government. When US law denies rights to one group of people, the rights of all are threatened. TAKE ACTION! Call your representatives and tell them to restore fairness and basic human decency to the US immigration system. For more information, visit us at: www.MidwestHumanRights.org www.immigrantjustice.org
1:16
Asylum Seekers Hold Protest in Australia Refugee Centre
Asylum Seekers Hold Protest in Australia Refugee Centre
A group of asylum seekers climbed up to the roof of a Sydney detention center on Monday, following the death of a fellow inmate. Immigration officials said that a Fijian man died suddenly in tragic circumstances before he was to be deported from Australia. Human rights activists said that the man committed suicide. At least five men climbed up to the roof of Villawood detention center following the news, demanding freedom. [Sandi Logan, Immigration Spokesperson]: "These are not unfortunately matters that we enjoy having to manage but they nonetheless do occur. We're reasonably confident that we will be able to negotiate with this small group of men, we are understand what their concerns are and will work with them and with our case managers to get them down." A refugee advocate says the refugees are in an unhealthy mental state. [Jamal Daoud, Refugee Advocate]: "Their psychologists warned the government that their mental health is deteriorating every day, unless there is an immediate solution for their ordeal." The protesters were still on the roof in the evening.
9:19
Aboriginal Passports issued to asylum seekers prevented from entering Australia
Aboriginal Passports issued to asylum seekers prevented from entering Australia
Since Australia's Commonwealth Government refuses to fulfil its international obligations, members of Australia's (Ab)Original government - with the endorsement of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy - have decided to issue their own passports for a group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers who were refused entry into Australia This story relates to the recent debacle surrounding the Sri Lankan, 'Merak refugees' who claimed asylum status in Australia (as is their right under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention to which Australia is signatory) but - due to the government's personal intervention - were detained at Merak, Indonesia, and never made it here. On 1st May 2010, Labour Day in Australia, a special Original passport signing ceremony was held in Melbourne. These passports will be delivered to the Merak refugees in a few weeks. Original Passports are recognised in many countries around the world, they have been stamped in Europe, Asia and South America. Obviously it's a symbolic gesture since Australia is one of the countries that does not recognise the government which issued these passports! However, the impact of this gesture will increase with the number of people who learn about it. "Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries freedom from persecution" -- Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
8:23
Human rights chief on asylum seeker policy
Human rights chief on asylum seeker policy
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pilay has told Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, she thinks her government's mandatory detention policy for asylum seekers is "arbitrary" and had "cast a shadow" over the country's human rights record for many years. Ms Pilay also expressed reservations to Ms Gillard, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Immigration Minister Chris Bowen over their plans to transport 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia and swap them for 4000 refugees. Ms Pilay says she remains to be convinced that Malaysia is an appropriate country to receive asylum seekers and that there must be adequate safeguards against torture.
2:10
Refugee Week 2011
Refugee Week 2011
What would make you leave your home? What if you had to leave your family, your life and even your country behind? 40 million people worldwide have had to face decisions like these. They are refugees. We are celebrating Refugee Week from 20-26 June 2011 - a unique opportunity to discover and celebrate the contributions refugees bring to the UK. (The song used is Ooh Child, by the Five Stairsteps- used with permission) www.redcross.org.uk www.refugeeweek.org.uk
5:41
Asylum seeker speaks about immigrant detention
Asylum seeker speaks about immigrant detention
Rashed Binrashed was 19 years old when he came alone to the United States to escape persecution following a civil war in his native country of Yemen. Several years later, as the result of some bad legal advice he received during the asylum process, he was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For more than two and a half years, Rashed was held at three different county jails near Chicago. In this video, Binrashed speaks about his experience in detention and the need for fair and humane reform of the immigrant detention system. His talk was part of a panel discussion held in conjunction with a special Chicago screening of the film "The Visitor" in October 2008, presented by Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center and the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights as part of the City of Chicago's Immigrant & Refugee Week and in partnership with Active Voice. For more information, visit www.immigrantjustice.org, www.midwesthumanrights.org, and www.activevoice.net/thevisitor.
1:05
Public hearings update 12 - The rights of asylum seekers
Public hearings update 12 - The rights of asylum seekers
Mustafa Najib, a former asylum seeker who has since become an Australian citizen, was rescued by the MV Tampa in 2001 and detained in Nauru. He argues that Australia needs a mechanism to prevent the kind of human rights violations he suffered from occuring again. He highlights access to legal services as a key area in need of improvement.
1:50
Malaysia-Australia refugee deal sparks criticism
Malaysia-Australia refugee deal sparks criticism
Human rights groups have criticised an agreement between Australia and Malaysia on the treatment of refugees. Under the deal, 4000 asylum seekers registered with the United Nations, would be allowed entry into Australia. In return, Australia would deport 800 illegal immigrants to Malaysia. However, asylum seekers arriving in the Southeast Asian country say they face a bleak future. Al Jazeera's Azhar Sukri reports from Kuala Lumpur.
7:54
Renewing US Commitment: Celebrating the Refugee Act of 1980
Renewing US Commitment: Celebrating the Refugee Act of 1980
www.humanrightsfirst.org The 30th Anniversary of this landmark piece of legislation offers an occasion to highlight the United States achievements under the Refugee Act, honor the contributions refugees and their children have made to the diverse fabric of American society, and evaluate the ways in which policymakers can work together to overcome the current challenges in the US refugee resettlement and asylum systems.
2:56
About Jesuit Refugee Service
About Jesuit Refugee Service
Jesuit Refugee Service (www.jrsusa.org) is an international Catholic non-governmental organization whose mission is to serve, accompany, and defend the rights of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, witnessing to Gods presence in vulnerable and often forgotten people driven from their homes by conflict, natural disaster, economic injustice, or violation of their human rights. As one of the ten geographic regions of the Jesuit Refugee Service, JRS serves as the major refugee outreach arm of US Jesuits and their institutional ministries, mobilizing their response to refugee situations in the US and abroad. Through our advocacy and fund raising efforts, JRS/USA also provides support for the work of JRS throughout the world. JRS/USA gives help, hope, ear and voice to vulnerable people on the move by being present to and bearing witness to their plight; by relieving their human suffering and restoring hope; by addressing the root causes of their displacement and improving international responses to refugee situations. In addition, JRS/USA inspires the Ignatian family and others to respond together to the needs of refugees and displaced persons worldwide and forges strong partnerships with like-minded institutions and agencies devoted to the cause of refugees and displaced persons. JRS works in more than 57 countries worldwide to meet the educational, health, social and other needs of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. JRS services are made available to <b>...</b>
1:51
UN Criticizes Australia's Handling of Illegal Refugees
UN Criticizes Australia's Handling of Illegal Refugees
For more news visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ facebook.com The United Nations top human rights watchdog has attacked Australia's tough refugee policies. The UN Human Rights commissioner criticized Australia's long-standing policies of locking up asylum seekers... and sending them to other countries for processing. UN Human Rights commissioner Navi Pillary held talks on Wednesday with Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The commissioner expressed deep concern about the Labor government's latest plan to send hundreds of asylum seekers to Malaysia. [Navi Pillay, UN Human Rights Commissioner]: "Australia's mandatory detention policy has for many years cast a shadow over Australia's human rights record. Thousands of men, women and most disturbingly of all, children, have been held in Australian detention centers for prolonged periods even though they have committed no crime. When detention is mandatory and does not take into account individual circumstances, it can be considered arbitrary and therefore in breach of international law. Mandatory detention is also a practice that can, and has, led to suicides, self-harming and deep trauma." The Australian government has been struggling to handle the flow of illegal immigrants. Earlier this month it says it had struck a deal with Kuala Lumpur to ensure asylum-seekers caught heading to Australia would be sent to Malaysia. More than 900 people, mostly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran <b>...</b>
12:32
Andy Lamey on Canada's immigration process
Andy Lamey on Canada's immigration process
Andy Lamey is the author of "Frontier Justice: Human Rights in the Age of Asylum". In these excerpts he talks about the how many refugees enter Canada each year and from where they come. He ecommetns on how Australia deals with their refugee claimants, and also about the responsibility of airlines in making sure refugees' documentation is authentic.
2:32
Asylum seekers - the facts
Asylum seekers - the facts
An animation about asylum seekers and refugees in the United Kingdom. Made for my BA exam project. Best watched full screen at 720p
1:21
Andy Lamey - how Canada & the US treat asylum seekers.
Andy Lamey - how Canada & the US treat asylum seekers.
Andy Lamey is the author of "Frontier Justice: Human Rights in the Age of Asylum". In this preview, he compares the ways in which Canada and the United States treat their refugees and asylum seekers.
7:25
Asylum seekers in Australia - What kind of nation?
Asylum seekers in Australia - What kind of nation?
Searching for a more compassionate approach to asylum seekers coming to Australia, this is a short doco that aims to give the facts faces and give the stats eyes.
31:05
End Australia's war on refugees!
End Australia's war on refugees!
Refugee Action Coalition (RAC) held a rally for refugee rights on Monday March 21 at Central Station next door to Sydney's Department of Immigration and Citizenship in the city. The rally called on the government and the opposition to end the continued mistreatment of people fleeing from war, torture and persecution in their home country to seek safe asylum in Australia. "It is time for Australia to understand that when we treat people who come here from terrible circumstances, risking their lives in boats, to come here, when we treat them with utter and complete lack of humanity, we don't just damage their human rights, we undermine our own human rights. For when a government can treat one human being that way, it is open for them to treat all human beings that way." John Kay, Greens. To get involved with campaigning for refugee rights in Sydney, contact Refugee Action Coalition: refugeeaction.org.au
1:56
US Detention of Asylum Seekers: Seeking Protection, Finding Prison
US Detention of Asylum Seekers: Seeking Protection, Finding Prison
www.humanrightsfirst.org - After fleeing persecution in their own country, asylum seekers often wait for months in jail-like facilities with miserable conditions. Proceedings within this system lack basic due process safeguards. A new HRF report focuses on conditions of detention for asylum seekers in the United States. The report outlines ways to improve this process in ways that are more cost-effective, just, and humane.
