Let Them Hug

According to international human rights law, people fleeing from harm may enter a country by any mode of transport, with or without documents, in search of safety. Their cases should be processed in a timely manner and those found to be genuine refugees should be settled in a safe country.

In 2013, Australia swiftly passed a law contradicting these human rights agreements. Operation Sovereign Borders meant that all asylum-seekers arriving by boat would never be settled in Australia. The thousands that turned up right after the policy was made were detained in the deplorable conditions of offshore “processing centers”. Unable to return to their own countries, and with limited other options, hundreds of people are still in detention 9 years later. Some people are still offshore, while those in Australia are detained in hotels and detention centers, in community detention or on temporary bridging visas. They all deserve a permanent and safe place to settle.

The refugee crisis is growing, but it is not an insurmountable issue. We need to know the facts, understand the human rights that we are all entitled to, and act to protect them.

Let Them Hug’s goals are to:
1. Campaign to end Australia’s indefinite detention of asylum-seekers
2. Empower young people to be effective change makers
3. Directly support refugees affected by Australia’s immigration detention system.

‘Let Them Hug’ is a film for young and regional audiences across Australia who want to know more about Australia’s refugee situation and are feeling powerless to make changes on issues they care about. In the long term, our goal is to help drive national policy reform around the treatment of refugees. In the short term, the film and its accompanying campaign aim to shift public awareness about the realities faced by people seeking asylum, both past and present, and to inspire collective action that holds the Australian government accountable to its human rights obligations while fostering safe, welcoming communities for all. Through ‘Let Them Hug’, we will build understanding of refugee experiences across Australia and cultivate empathy for individuals behind the statistics, particularly among younger audiences who have grown up under “out of sight, out of mind” policies and have had limited access to comprehensive education on this issue.

Let Them Hug is a collaborative film. Our creative team will consist of filmmakers, refugees, activists, legal professionals and influencers to create an impactful documentary on a contemporary Australian issue. We are liaising with organisations for and by refugees to partner with our team for the film release and impact campaign. Human rights barrister Claire O’Connor SC has provided her support at this early stage and the filmmakers have had incredible access in the Refugee Solidarity Meanjin movement. We are continuing to build this network as the project progresses.

After watching the film, audiences will have a greater understanding of, and deeper connection to, refugees in Australia. We hope viewers will:
– Support the campaign to free refugees from indefinite detention.
– Visit the Let Them Hug website and social media pages to access additional materials including information packs, education tools and additional resources on the refugee crisis.
– Become active changemakers in their community through volunteering, activism or even by hosting their own Let Them Hug screenings and discussions.
– Donate to the Let Them Hug fundraisers, raising money to support refugees in the community.