17 June is recognised by the United Nations as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Desertification, a problem affecting over 250 million people worldwide, is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, caused by inappropriate and overuse of the land through human activities like deforestation or overgrazing. The World… Continue Reading World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 17 June | United Nations
21st March is National Harmony Day in Australia, a nationwide celebration of our country’s cultural diversity, which coincides with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The message of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’, the Day aims to engage people to participate in their community, respect cultural and religious diversity and foster… Continue Reading National Harmony Day, 21st March
The 21st March every year is recognised by the United Nations as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The theme for 2017 is “Racial profiling and incitement to hatred, including in the context of migration,” recognising that refugees and migrants are often targets for racial discrimination. Below is some information about the… Continue Reading International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March | United Nations
The 15th January 2017 is the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. In his message for 2017, Pope Francis draws attention to the plight of “Child Migrants, the Vulnerable and the Voiceless.” You can read his full message here, or read an except below. This is also an opportunity and reminder to read and reflect on the… Continue Reading Message from Pope Francis for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 15 January 2017
The 18th December 2016 is International Migrants Day, a day observed annually by the United Nations and countries throughout the world to acknowledge and celebrate the rights of migrants and to draw attention to the current issues and opportunities surrounding global migration. The United Nations recently (September 2016) adopted a set of committments known as the New York… Continue Reading International Migrants Day, 18 December 2016 | United Nations
No matter where we’ve come from, how we got here or why we’ve made Australia home – we share our future. Together, we can create communities characterised by welcome and a nation known for its diversity, unity and generosity. If you believe that compassion builds a better future than cruelty, that fear and prejudice… Continue Reading Welcome to Australia: Walk Together this year on Oct 22nd in your city
Every year, the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) releases a Migrant and Refugee Kit in time for Migrant and Refugee Week and Migrant and Refugee Sunday, containing a number of useful resources for parishes. This year, Migrant and Refugee Week runs from 22nd to the 28th August, culminating in Migrant and Refugee Sunday on the… Continue Reading ACMRO Kit for Migrant and Refugee Week 2016
“The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a world of justice and equality where xenophobia and bigotry do not exist. We must learn the lessons of history and acknowledge the profound damage caused by racial discrimination.” – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday 21st March is the… Continue Reading International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Monday 21st March, 2016
Next Monday, 21st March, is National Harmony Day – a day to celebrate cultural diversity in Australia. You can read some information about Harmony Day below, or head to the government website at www.harmony.gov.au to learn how you can celebrate Australia’s diversity this National Harmony Day. Harmony Day is held every year on… Continue Reading National Harmony Day, Monday 21st March 2016
Bishop Vincent Long ofm conv, Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Refugees, has released a statement regarding the High Court’s decision on offshore processing. Click on the image below to enlarge the statement:
Saturday 20th February 2016 has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly as the World Day of Social Justice. The theme for 2016 is, “A Just Transition – environmentally sustainable economies and societies.” From the United Nations website: Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations.… Continue Reading United Nations: World Day of Social Justice, 20 February 2016
UN: International Migrants Day – Friday 18th December “On International Migrants Day, let us commit to coherent, comprehensive and human-rights based responses guided by international law and standards and a shared resolve to leave no one behind.” – Ban Ki-moon, Message for International Migrants Day, 18 December 2015 Website: www.un.org/en/events/migrantsday/ Hashtag: #migrantscontribute With ever increasing numbers… Continue Reading UN: International Migrants Day – Friday 18th December
The Justice, Ecology and Development Office last month joined hundreds of West Australians in welcoming refugees, migrants and visitors to Australia at a family fun day at John MacMillan Park. Director Carol Mitchell said it was wonderful to see such a joyous welcome expressed to those from many other nations. The event, said Mrs Mitchell,… Continue Reading The Record » Justice, Ecology and Development Office joins Welcome to Australia celebration
It’s time that we all jumped up and down to end indefinite mandatory immigration detention for kids. They don’t belong there. They never did. The compelling evidence continues: mandatory detention is damaging the mental, physical and emotional well being of children. The Human Rights Commission’s Forgotten Children report into children in detention provides evidence… Continue Reading Jump Up&Down 4 Kids in Detention
Read current and past issues of the JEDO Newsletter here, and catch up on the social justice work of the Justice, Ecology and Development Office within the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. Continue Reading
The use of acknowledgement plaques on entrances to homes, churches, workplaces and other buildings, serve to remind Australians of the presence of the Aboriginal people in our land millennia before the making of the Australian colonies and the Australian nation Continue Reading Aboriginal Acknowledgement Plaque Orders