Refugee policy - where to from here?
Key representatives from government, UNHCR and refugee groups will discuss solutions for Australia and the Asia Pacific at a major refugee conference at UNSW.
Published on the 10 Jun 2011
The UNSW Centre for Refugee Research, partnering with the Refugee Council of Australia and the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees regional office Canberra, is hosting a major conference (14-17 June) to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
At a time of major debate around refugee and asylum-seeker policy, the conference will provide an opportunity to reflect on the strengths and achievements of the Refugee Convention, and consider what further action is required to secure the rights of refugees during flight, in countries of asylum and in resettlement.
Key themes include: Challenges in the Asia Pacific region; regional protection frameworks; the search for solutions in protracted situations; and asylum and settlement in Australia and NZ.
Keynote speakers: • The Hon. Chris Bowen, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship • Senator Kate Lundy, Parlimentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs • Dr Jeff Crisp, Head of the Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit, UNHCR • Rick Towle, Regional Representative, UNHCR for Australia, NZ, PNG and the Pacific. • Dr Graham Thom, Amnesty International Australia• Paul Power, CEO, Refugee Council of Australia • Dr Eileen Pittaway, Director, UNSW Centre for Refugee Research• Renuka Balasubramaniam, Lawyers for Liberty, Malaysia
The full conference program is available here.
What: 2011 Refugee Conference - Looking to the future, learning from the past When: June 14-17, 2011 Where: Central Lecture Block, Kensington campus, UNSW
Media contact: Fran Strachan | 9385 8732| 0429 416 070