Â

Â

Communities across the country will celebrate Australia’s role in providing people with a new life free from fear and persecution during Refugee Week (June 14 – 20), the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said today.

“All Australiansshould feel proud of our contributions to international refugee protection. Helping refugees reflects an important value – compassion for those in need. It is something that we do well and will continue to do well in the coming years,”Senator Evans said.

This year, Refugee Week will revolve around the theme Freedom from fear, which demonstrates how people can overcome incredible hardships to start new lives free from fear and persecution.

Events will be staged in each state and territory this week to celebrate the remarkable journeys made by refugees who have come to Australia under the humanitarian program.

Senator Evans said that Australia provides comprehensive support systems for refugees and others in humanitarian need and consistently ranks among the world’s top three resettlement countries, along with the United States and Canada.

In last month’s Budget, the Australian Government increased its humanitarian program to 13 750 places in 2009-10 from 13 500 places in 2008-09.

The regional priorities within the 2009-10 program will continue to focus on the three key regions of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, including South est Asia. The program will particularly focus on the resettlement of refugees who have been languishing in camps for years, many of whom have limited options, other than to be resettled in a third country.

Australia has already committed to resettle up to 5000 Bhutanese refugees from Nepal over coming yearsand is actively engaged in the resettlement of Burmese refugees from camps along the Thai-Burma border, Afghans in Pakistan and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, among other groups in protracted situations.

Australia is an international leader in the resettlement of refugee women without theprotection of partners or male relatives and in 2009-10 will increase the intake of women at risk and their dependants from 10.5 per cent to 12 per centof the refugee program.

Senator Evans said the Government will also ensure it meets all of Australia’s international protection obligations by introducing complementary protection arrangements for people at risk of the most serious forms of harm in their home country.

“This will allow Australia to meet our protection obligations under international human rights treaties to people who may not meet the Refugees Convention definition, but who cannot return home because they would be killed or tortured,” Senator Evans said.