PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT
AUCKLAND REFUGEE COUNCIL (INC) AGM 2011
This year the Auckland Refugee Council celebrates its 21st Anniversary as an Incorporated Society. The Council was established with the goal of assisting asylum seekers here in New Zealand and those who sought the safety of our shores. That goal remains unchanged.
Over those 21 years I believe the Council has been and continues to be an excellent example of a community organisation that delivers a highly professional service with relatively few resources to a marginalised community - with results that are second to none. The Auckland Refugee Council continues to advocate on behalf of asylum seekers while at the same time continues to find ways of improving our services.
With this in mind we have been working to lift our image. Over the last 12 months we have had significant media coverage on asylum issues and have continued our important dialogue with a range of Government agencies, in particular Immigration New Zealand. We have also had the privilege of appointing our first Auckland Refugee Council patron. With the former Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan accepting the role of patron to the organisation.
This year has also seen the consolidation of our accommodation and support work at the Auckland Refugee Council hostel and our three Housing New Zealand flats. As an organisation we are continuing to actively investigate further options to enable us to offer more medium and long term accommodation - especially to our clients who have received work permits and eventual residency.
Despite our efforts the Council remains concerned about the lack of emergency housing available for asylum seekers on arrival. In addition to this the ongoing delay in the granting of work permits causes huge difficulty for clients and our organisation. We are too often required to accommodate, feed and support clients who have no means of support for extended periods of time.
While the numbers of asylum seekers reaching our shores are slightly lower than last year we are not convinced that the root causes of the displacement of individuals and communities around the world have decreased in any way. Our concern has been that the introduction of the new Immigration Act has had the effect of restricting the number of asylum seekers reaching our shores. We will continue to monitor this situation closely.
We would also like to take the opportunity to highlight the concern that over the last two years there has been a very noticeable tightening in the supply of legal services for asylum seekers. This tightening of legal services is a result of a lack realistically funded hours to carry out professional representation. This lack of representation has led to delays in processing cases. We believe this situation must be addressed to avert a crisis that could leave applicants without legal representation.
Over the past year we have met regularly with Government departments, attended many forums, workshops and working groups. Through the efforts of individual members of the council and in particular our Executive Officer Elizabeth we have advocated persistently and powerfully concerning the impact of immigration policy and practice on the situation of asylum seekers individually and collectively.
The work of the organization has also been greatly enhanced by the appointment of Andrea in an administration role. This has allowed the Auckland Refugee Council team to be more focused in their roles. Perhaps, it also foreshadows the future development of the organisation. As the organization evolves we remain confident that we will be able to assist asylum seekers and are planning initiatives that will create greater stability for the organisation in the future.
We extend our grateful thanks to all those who have supported us especially our funders and fellow social service providers who have given generously of their goods, services and grants.
We extend our prayers and good wishes to all our friends, colleagues and their families and to those in need of asylum who live daily with uncertainty, violence and disbelief that their lives could be so altered.
On behalf of the Executive Committee I extend our thanks to: Andrea, Burhan, our volunteers and to the board members who all give of their time and energy. To Elizabeth our Executive Officer our special thanks for continuing to serve our organisation with dedication and the highest of professional standards.
Munjid Umara
President
Auckland Refugee Council (Inc)
14th August 2011
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