ERC In Touch

NSW, Australia

The Edmund Rice Centre, Homebush eNewsletter is now available. This, the first for the New Year, invites the readers to support ERC by being part of their campaigns and by giving financial support.

Dear friends,

As an introduction to the new year, Australians were last week encouraged to reflect on what it means to be Australian. While there is much to celebrate for our rich culture today, there remains much to be desired. Australia recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Afghanistan, which permits the involuntary repatriation of unsuccessful asylum seekers - including children - back to the war zone that is Afghanistan. The Edmund Rice Centre expresses grave concerns over this agreement. Read more below.

To show your support, ERC invite you to sign the people's statement, which calls for the Australian government to address its humanitarian obligations and provide leadership and asylum for those who are fleeing from a country riddled with conflict, persecution and ongoing violence.

The enormity of the human rights injustices in Australia against those seeking asylum, as well as the distressing inequalities of our own Indigenous people were highlighted last week as Australia's human rights record faced international scrutiny as part of the UN Human Rights h Team

PS. The Edmund Rice Centre wishes to congratulate Prof. Ron McCallum AO for receiving the Senior Australian of the Year 2011. He is an ongoing advocate for the equality across disability, and was the guest speaker at an ERC Business Ethics breakfast last year.

Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It will be a long process to amend these wrongs, but a vital one. Your support is much appreciated.

We need your help to assist us in our advocacy work in 2011, to keep our work, and the voice of the marginalised afloat. To offer a donation, click here, or contact the centre on (02) 8762 4200.

Read the Full Edition: ERC InTouch