ASPI is delighted to invite you to attend the launch of the Australian Wrongful and Arbitrary Detention Alliance (AWADA) via a special public event exploring the impact of hostage diplomacy on Wednesday 20 March.

Click here to attend in-person.

AWADA is an advocacy group founded by former wrongfully detained Australians and their families, which aims to provide advice and support to the families of current wrongful detention cases, including those which are not reported on publicly.

The panel discussion, featuring former high-profile detainees Cheng Lei, Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert and Professor Sean Turnell, will be moderated by ASPI’s Executive Director Justin Bassi.

Hostage diplomacy is a threat to global security, human rights and the rules-based order. The arbitrary detention of citizens to punish and coerce another nation is a sinister and increasingly tempting tactic for authoritarian nations in the absence of countermeasures.

The discussion will focus on Australia’s approach to hostage diplomacy, why it is being increasingly used by authoritarian states around the world, and how multilateral coordination is needed to counter the ploy.

It will also explore the legislative reforms Australia can make to improve the way it manages cases of wrongful detention and hostage diplomacy. The panelists will draw on ongoing public cases and their own experiences to advocate for governments to include justice for victims and accountability in negotiations.

For those attending in-person, light refreshments will be provided after the event.

About the Australian Wrongful and Arbitrary Detention Alliance:
The Australian Wrongful and Arbitrary Detention Alliance (AWADA) is an advocacy group founded by former wrongfully detained Australians and their families. AWADA aims to provide advice and support to the families of current wrongful detention cases, including those which are not reported on publicly. We also seek to advocate for policy and legislative reform to how Australia manages cases of wrongful detention and hostage diplomacy, in line with international best practice. Central to our efforts is the belief that justice and accountability for victims should form part of the government’s efforts to disincentivise this alarming global trend.