For me it will be another Northern Australia outback adventure…but this time I need your help to realise my dream and complete the adventure.  My outback adventure aims to raise $3000 per participant to support the work of Amnesty International.

The Hike the Homelands challenge in July 2015 is 7 day walk along the Larapinta Trail, which stretches from the Old Alice Springs Telegraph Station along the spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges to Mount Sonder.

The walk is an opportunity for me to revisit the wide red lands that I have been drawn towards over the last few years. In 2013 I spent a month travelling from Alice west to the Pilbara, and in 2014 a month travelling from Alice northwest to the Kimberley. Both trips were breathtakingly, hauntingly beautiful, and the landscape resonated with me in a way that both surprises and sustains me.

Support Amnesty to support Aboriginal Homelands

The Hike the Homelands challenge is also an opportunity for me to give back to that country and the Indigenous Homeland communities that live in and care for their country. It will support Amnesty in their work to ensure that the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is implemented locally in the Homelands and nationally through legislation, policies and programs. https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/un-declaration-rights-indigenous-peoples-1

Health and human rights are inextricably entwined and without upholding and promoting human rights we will not be able to ‘Close the Gap’ between the health of Indigenous Australians and non-indigenous Australians.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have age old connections to their homelands. About one third of the Aboriginal population in the Northern Territory live in their homelands, maintaining their connection to land and cultures. These communities have lower levels of social problems and significantly better health outcomes.

Support Amnesty to support Refugees

This fundraising effort will also assist Amnesty investigate human rights abuses against refugees and asylum seekers, and advocate on their behalf to governments, including our own. Amnesty encourages governments to increase support for refugees, and work with other NGOs to protect their basic human rights.

Support Amnesty in other great work

Amnesty International also:

Supports individuals at risk around the world who are at risk of human rights violations

Assists countries in crisis

Works to bring an end to torture by reminding governments of their obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture, and reporting on countries and organisations that ignore or violate laws and commitments they have made.