The world’s first research centre specialising in international refugee law will open at the University of New South Wales this week.
“The Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW aims to move beyond the sound bites and slogans that dumb down public policy, and seeks to open up a space for questions, debate, and informed opinion-making”, explained the Centre’s Director, Professor Jane McAdam.
“With leadership on the asylum issue so lacking among our politicians on all sides, it is now the task of research institutes to fill this void”.
The Centre’s Advisory Committee includes former NSW Premier Nick Greiner and barrister Julian Burnside QC.
Philanthropists Andrew Kaldor and Renata Kaldor provided funding for the new centre, explaining that their decision to support the project was inspired by the experiences of their parents. “Our parents fled war-torn Europe after WWII. In escaping their home countries, our families resorted to assistance that would today be classed as illegal. Australia was welcoming, open and generous to us. We therefore feel both a debt to Australia and empathy with those refugees who are fleeing their homes without proper documents or assistance”, Andrew Kaldor said.
The Centre will officially open at a function at the UNSW Faculty of Law tomorrow night.
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