A UN committee has ruled that Australia violated the rights of 25 asylum seekers detained on Nauru, including minors, who suffered arbitrary detention after being granted refugee status. The findings condemn Australia’s outsourcing policy for asylum processing and underscore the need for accountability in such situations.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has determined that the Australian government violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by detaining a group of 25 asylum seekers on Nauru, some of whom were minors. Despite being granted refugee status, these individuals were subjected to years of arbitrary detention under conditions that led to serious health deteriorations, including self-harm and insomnia. The panel of experts emphasized that Australia’s outsourcing of asylum processing does not exempt it from accountability for human rights violations.
The situation of asylum seekers held in offshore detention centers, particularly on Nauru, is a significant issue in Australia’s immigration policy. Since the introduction of a hardline policy in 2012, Australia has been criticized for its treatment of refugees, especially minors. The UN committee’s findings shed light on the ongoing human rights concerns related to such practices and raise questions about the obligations of nations that engage in outsourcing their asylum processing.
The ruling by the UN Human Rights Committee not only highlights the rights violations against asylum seekers in Nauru but also serves as a reminder to all states that accountability is expected, regardless of where asylum processing occurs. This decision further puts pressure on the Australian government to rectify its practices and ensure the protection of human rights for all refugees within its sphere of influence.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
