Veronika Wild

 -Image by Bru-nO at Pixaba It was the very success of earlier migrations that encouraged optimism with respect to subsequent migration programs. Though most refugee camps were now empty, those who had arrived earlier often encouraged others to come or sponsored relatives under the family reunion scheme.  As economic conditions improved in Europe by the 1970s, there were fewer migrants from that source and some even began returning home. However, social and economic upheavals in other parts of the world continued to bring migrants to Australia’s shores. A rough timeline follows which also reflects changes in Australia’s immigration policy. Apologies to all those I have had to leave out. Note how the various Independence movements sparked waves of immigration. 1945 THE DUTCH Among the first to arrive in the Post War Period were the Dutch. A few Dutch settlers had arrived after the war under a scheme whereby Allied servicemen could apply for Assisted passage to Australia, bu...

  Domestic Violence and Violence against Women and Children are a major problem in many parts of the world and just like Australia, many countries have created National Plans to counter it.  I must confess, I have not read many of these – just one subsection in Australia’s ran to 283 pages, but there is considerable similarity between them. For example, they almost always include Helplines, Emergency Shelter and support, changes to legislature, and efforts to improve Gender Equality, workplace culture and the underlying norms which contribute to the mistreatment of women. With the broad brushstrokes already established, this post will mainly be about recent changes and some of the more innovative programs. EUROPE The European Union and associated countries – 45 to date, have recently ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence – more generally known as the Istanbul Convention , which came into effect in...