Author: Aisha Noor
January 22, 2025
![Asylum seekers on Nauru in 2003 [Image credit: EPA via BBC News]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_9cb5efa3ff2b4d5eb90a7f278c0657e3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_9cb5efa3ff2b4d5eb90a7f278c0657e3~mv2.png)
HRRC condemns Australia's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. Australia must end its current asylum policy which effectively ships the vulnerable to detention camps on remote islands where they face malnutrition and other serious health conditions.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has provided a scathing report on Australia over the detention policy of refugees and asylum seekers at the Nauru detention center. This report draws attention to mass human rights abuses by Australia under its cruel asylum policy effectively imprisoning refugees trying to reach the country by boat in detention camps on remote islands.
The UNHRC's report focuses on 25 refugees – all the applicants, including minors, have been subject to years of arbitrary and unfair detention under inhumane conditions in Nauru. Of the refugees who were arrested in 2013 while attempting to seek asylum in Australia, a number of individuals complained of various ailments, such as malnutrition, attempted suicide, sleeplessness and developing kidney conditions. Even after asylum was granted, they had no right – even after exhausting domestic policies – to appeal against their detention contrary to Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The actions of Australia have been and continue to be strongly criticized by HRRC because it is a blatant violation of the rights of the vulnerable. As witnessed, the UN committee emphasized that transfer of responsibility to another state, in this case Nauru, does not exclude such violations.
In our advocacy for asylum seekers and refugees at HRRC, the notion that the detention facilities being outsourced come with the creation of "human rights-free zones" isn't agreeable. The Australian government must accept liability for their abuse of refugees and act now to offer restitution and guarantee that similar violations will not be committed in the future.
This ruling must be taken as a timely wake-up call to all states that they cannot act with impunity, even if they decide to outsource asylum-seeking processing in other regions of the world.
Glossary
Abuse of Refugees: Mistreatment or violation of refugee rights.
Ailments: Physical or mental conditions or illnesses.
Arbitrary: Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than reason or system.
Article 10 (ICCPR): A provision ensuring humane treatment of detained individuals.
Asylum: Protection granted to individuals fleeing persecution.
Asylum Policy: Government regulations for granting refuge to those fleeing persecution.
Detention Camps: Facilities where asylum seekers are held during processing.
Detention Policy: Rules governing the detention of asylum seekers and refugees.
Human Rights-Free Zones: Areas where human rights protections are not upheld.
Inhumane Conditions: Harsh living conditions that degrade human dignity.
Ruling: A legal decision or judgment.
Sources