Alison Battisson

Ep. 46   Alison Battisson

Alison Battisson is the founder and Director Principal of the organisation, Human Rights For All. Their focus is to ensure basic human rights and humanitarian treatment for refugees and the stateless.  
Most of us have very strong opinions on this topic but realistically -  how many of us actually know what happens from a legal and humanitarian perspective. For example, did you know that in Australia there is no right to legal representation so it's up to organisations like HR4A to work pro bono (free of charge!) to give assistance or the refugees sit there in mandatory detention at the whim of the government. For years and years.
Australia is the ONLY country in the western world which has mandatory detention for people without visas. I'd say normally that we're keeping pretty unusual company in that regard.....but we have no company on this one. No one else treats refugees and asylum seekers like this.
Listening to Alison is an education. I wish it wasn't. If we all new about this I reckon a lot of people would be very upset. Consider this....the family from Sri Lanka who became known as 'The Biloela Family'  were being sent home and were literally in a plane back to Sri Lanka and the public found out what was going on and objected. Vociferously.  The plane was forced to turn around mid flight and return to Australia!
Australia has attracted international condemnation by the UN of its treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. Alison can explain why. It's not conjecture or hear say. It's not even the words of 'informed' social or media commentators. It's from someone who has their 'boots on the ground'. Every day. 


If you want to assist and donate to this cause, go to www.hr4a.com.au and follow the link.

Trigger warning: this episode contains references to self harm and assault

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