2025 wins and losses: how far have we come on human rights?
Today is Human Rights Day. It is an annual reminder that we believe in universal human rights – in the inherent dignity of each individual, including those who have been displaced.
Too often, it’s a reminder that our current society and systems compromise instead of upholding the human rights of the most vulnerable.
Indeed, in the work we do at RACS, it’s easy to feel that there’s still such a long way to go for universal, inalienable human rights to be observed, let alone celebrated.
When it comes to the human rights of people who have been forcibly displaced, Australia took some steps backwards in 2025. Still, there have also been some wins worth highlighting, too.
Human rights wins for refugees
One millionth refugee settled in Australia
Australia has now welcomed more than 1 million refugees to our country since 1947. This milestone underscores our longstanding commitment to supporting people who are displaced. It’s a commitment that has been under significant political attack, but it’s one we as a nation should be proud of and continue to fight for.
RACS friends Prof Daniel Ghezelbash and Prof Jane McAdam from the Kaldor Centre expand upon this here.
Evacuations for Palestinians
The RACS team has worked tirelessly to support Palestinians escaping Gaza. While there has been much uncertainty for these families, we were heartened to see the Australian Government support evacuations for those who received visas to come to Australia but were stranded overseas.
Read sisters Alaa and Suha’s story here.
New toolkit for working with refugee women at risk
Refugee women experiencing or at risk of gender-based violence have long fallen through the cracks between the immigration, family and criminal law systems. Our recent Safer Futures toolkit and accompanying Directory of Services brings together insights from women with lived experience with RACS’s trauma-informed legal approach – to bridge some of the gaps in knowledge and coordination across the sector.
Download the toolkit here.
UN decision re: refugee children detained on Nauru
After almost 10 years, the United Nations Human Rights Committee made a decision in favour of 24 refugee children (represented by RACS), who were detained on Christmas Island and Nauru. The Committee found Australia could not outsource its human rights obligations to a third party and had breached these children’s human rights by detaining them offshore.
Human rights wins for refugees
Shady Nauru deal
The Australian Government’s multi-billion dollar arrangement with the Nauruan Government remains shrouded in secrecy. Recent corruption allegations underscore the lack of transparency surrounding the federal government’s power and processes in deporting people to the island nation.
First individuals forcibly removed
In 2025, we’re seeing the fruit of last year’s Brutal Bills, with five individuals deported from Australia to Nauru on 30-year visas. RACS and other refugee rights organisations had raised the alarm about the draconian nature of the powers given to the Australian Government. Now we’re seeing what those powers in action can look like.
No Human Rights Act
Australia remains the only liberal democracy without a Human Rights Act. Our friends at Human Rights Law Centre (including former RACS lawyer Arif Hussein) have been leading the charge to change this.
Australia’s humanitarian intake below target
While it’s encouraging to see Australia increase its humanitarian intake and create viable pathways to safety for many refugees, the 20,000 places granted in the 2024-25 financial year does fall short of the 24,500 target promised by the Labor Government.
Ongoing uncertainty for people affected by offshore processing
Around 800 individuals continue to languish in limbo, denied protection in Australia but unable to return to their countries of origin. RACS has been supporting over 200 of these individuals as best we can – which is currently limited to renewing 6-month bridging visas and advocating for their chance to find a permanent place to call home.
There is plenty of work to do in 2026, but with the generous help of our supporters, we can continue to stand for and with refugees, people seeking asylum, stateless individuals and those who are displaced.
Please, if you can, donate to our end-of-year appeal here:
