17/06/2004 - This Sunday, 20th of June is World Refugee Day and the Flotillas of Hope will arrive at Nauru. The 7 crew, 2 yacht flotilla of hope will bring their sincere and respectful message of human rights solidarity and gifts of toys for the children on Nauru.

The Flotillas of Hope only days from arriving at the small island nation of Nauru where they intend to bring a message of Hope and carry a message of love, peace and compassion from millions of people in Australia and around the world who have not forgotten those people languishing in Australia�s harsh and punitive policy, the infamous and failed �Pacific Solution�. 

74 children at our latest figure are in immigration detention on Nauru. Ask yourself; is that a human rights violation? 

If you look at the 1951 Geneva Conventions for Refugees, which you can here: http://www.hopecaravan.com/downloads/united_nations/1951refugee_convention.pdf you�ll see the following articles: 

Article 26. Freedom of movement

Each Contracting State shall accord to refugees lawfully in its territory the right to choose their place of residence and to move freely within its territory subject to any regulations applicable to aliens generally in the same circumstances. 

Article 27. Identity papers

The Contracting States shall issue identity papers to any refugee in their territory who does not possess a valid travel document.

Article 26 states, �Each Contracting State shall accord to refugees lawfully in its territory the right to choose their place of residence and to move freely within its territory subject to any regulations applicable to aliens generally in the same circumstances.� That�s freely within its territory subject to any regulations and not within its territory subject to endless detention in immoral and degrading circumstances waiting processing. 

Clearly under the Geneva conventions the message of its commitment and its signatory obligations that administrative or prison like detention is not what was being conveyed when it states �Freely within it territory�. 

Freedom and protection should be afforded to all people; it�s a fundamental of human rights.

The Flotillas of Hope simply wish to bring a message of hope to those people who have been waiting so long to be processed. 

Immigration minister, Senator Amanda Vanstone may claim there are no refugees in detention however this is pre-emptive and judgemental. This is akin to calling someone guilty before proven innocent. 

When a fellow human arrives on your door step you find out if they have a genuine claim, i.e. you process their claims before denying their determination. 90% or more asylum seekers in detention end up having a genuine claim as a refugee. 

The crew onboard have pure intentions and they express on behalf of millions of Australians and people around the world who are watching that we passionately believe in the fundamentals of human rights. 

Steve, Ruth, Lance, Keith, Elliot, Nerida and Joty all look forward to meeting the people of Nauru and the asylum seekers held in Australian immigration detention centres.

Flotillas of Hope � Brisbane Send Off

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For news about flotillas of Hope please visit:

http://www.flotilla2004.com  

http://www.hopecaravan.com/flotillas/index.htm (Flotillas of Hope � Progress Map)

http://hopecaravan.com/discuss/viewforum.php?f=6 (Flotillas of Hope � News)

http://www.hopecaravan.com/photos/foh/index.htm (Flotillas of Hope - Photos)