Along with more than 100 organisations, The Uniting Church is calling upon the Australian Government to immediately halt the offshore transfer of asylum seekers to several detention facilities. Such drastic measures are being demanded in response to the recent disturbing case of a five year-old girl who attempted to commit suicide after an extended period of detention on Nauru.
“The plight of this poor young girl is a tragic example of the damage the Australian Government is doing by sending asylum seekers into such unsafe, harsh environments,” said Rev. Elenie Poulos of UnitingJustice Australia.
Churches, human rights groups, aid agencies and faith-based organisations are among those forming the collective voice crying for a moratorium upon asylum seekers being sent to Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
Rev Poulos cites recent official reports that highlighted “shameful and disgusting examples of sexual abuse and violence against detainees on Nauru and Manus”.
“The Federal Government’s wilful refusal to intervene to protect these vulnerable people is tantamount to condoning this abuse,” said Rev. Poulos.
Click here to read UnitingJustice’s statement, and view the list of signatories.
