The rising cost of freedom

While most Australians take their freedom for granted, there are reportedly more than 43.4 million refugees globally who have fled their home countries as a result of conflict and violence. Many families and individuals risk everything to seek a safer destination.

Refugee Week which is held each year is Australia’s major activity to promote greater awareness of refugees, the obstacles they face and the contributions they make to the Australian community.

We are in the middle of Refugee Week which began on Sunday and runs until Saturday (June 21). This year’s theme is ‘Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community.’ 

The theme encourages people to explore what it means to be free, including living without fear of war, enjoying basic human rights, and living in equality. It also highlights the importance of being part of a ‘community.’

Australia, since the end of World War II, has accepted almost one million refugees and people in need of humanitarian protection. The idea of celebrating Refugee Week was first proposed in 1983 by the founding president of the Refugee Council of Australia, Major-General Paul Cullen in Sydney.

He was also the founding president of Austcare (Australians Care for Refugees), an organisation founded in 1967 to raise funds for international projects to support refugees.

The aims of Refugee Week are to:  

• Raise awareness and educate people about the reasons why there are refugees, the challenges refugees face, and the diverse experiences they bring 
• Acknowledge the positive contributions refugees make to society, including their skills, cultural richness, and resilience
• Promote understanding and empathy for the refugee experience 
• Encourage action and provide a platform for individuals, communities, and service providers to take positive action and advocate for refugees, both in Australia and internationally
• Celebrate the diversity of refugees and support the inclusion of diverse perspectives. 

More details at: https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/

Main image: Syrian refugees escaping into Western Europe through Greece (Anjo Kan/Shutterstock).

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