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| All Manus Island detainees show signs of anxiety and depression, report says | All Manus Island detainees show signs of anxiety and depression, report says |
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| A damning UNHCR report on the state of immigration detention on Manus Island [pdf] has found that every asylum seeker housed in offshore processing facilities on Manus island is displaying "apparent signs of anxiety and depression", once again raising questions about the legality of the Australian government's policy of offshore processing. | |
| A delegation from the United Nations' refugee agency, which did not contain a medical officer, visited the regional processing centre on the Papua New Guinean island last month, meeting with staff and detainees. | A delegation from the United Nations' refugee agency, which did not contain a medical officer, visited the regional processing centre on the Papua New Guinean island last month, meeting with staff and detainees. |
| It observed that "all asylum seekers on Manus island displayed apparent signs of anxiety and depression" and said that while a torture and trauma counselling team were expected to arrive on at the facility in early July, it was "regrettable that this action is remedial rather than preventative". | It observed that "all asylum seekers on Manus island displayed apparent signs of anxiety and depression" and said that while a torture and trauma counselling team were expected to arrive on at the facility in early July, it was "regrettable that this action is remedial rather than preventative". |
| The report also praised the "significant efforts" of Save the Children and the Salvation Army as well as the "positive and empathetic" approach of security and government staff for trying to mitigate the effects of long-term detention on asylum seekers. | The report also praised the "significant efforts" of Save the Children and the Salvation Army as well as the "positive and empathetic" approach of security and government staff for trying to mitigate the effects of long-term detention on asylum seekers. |
| Their report described a number of conditions inconsistent with international human rights law, including that detention was "arbitrary" and conditions remained "harsh". UNHCR last visited detention facilities on Manus in January, and while the report welcomed the removal of families and children from the processing centre, added that facilities on the island "remain essentially unchanged" with single adult males being housed in a "tent city" in need of repair. | Their report described a number of conditions inconsistent with international human rights law, including that detention was "arbitrary" and conditions remained "harsh". UNHCR last visited detention facilities on Manus in January, and while the report welcomed the removal of families and children from the processing centre, added that facilities on the island "remain essentially unchanged" with single adult males being housed in a "tent city" in need of repair. |
| "Conditions remain below international standards for the reception and treatment of asylum seekers," the report says. | "Conditions remain below international standards for the reception and treatment of asylum seekers," the report says. |
| The report recognised that processing of asylum claims on Manus was due to start soon, but acknowledged the frustration amongst detainees at the length of wait. It said that the memorandum of understanding between the governments of Australia and PNG, which stipulates the PNG government should make efforts to facilitate the assessment of detainees' asylum claims, had not been met. | The report recognised that processing of asylum claims on Manus was due to start soon, but acknowledged the frustration amongst detainees at the length of wait. It said that the memorandum of understanding between the governments of Australia and PNG, which stipulates the PNG government should make efforts to facilitate the assessment of detainees' asylum claims, had not been met. |
| The report recommends that: "The governments of PNG and Australia should finalise and disseminate as a matter of urgency clear information to asylum seekers about their legal rights and entitlements, and provide counselling on the procedures which will be followed to assess their claims for refugee status." | The report recommends that: "The governments of PNG and Australia should finalise and disseminate as a matter of urgency clear information to asylum seekers about their legal rights and entitlements, and provide counselling on the procedures which will be followed to assess their claims for refugee status." |
| It also said that efforts should be made to facilitate more freedom of movement within the facilities' surroundings, as progress so far had been "slow", contributing to the arbitrary nature of detention of asylum seekers housed in the centre. | It also said that efforts should be made to facilitate more freedom of movement within the facilities' surroundings, as progress so far had been "slow", contributing to the arbitrary nature of detention of asylum seekers housed in the centre. |
| "The lack of a clear legal framework for freedom of movement is compounded by the remoteness of the location and slow negotiations with the local community," the report said. | "The lack of a clear legal framework for freedom of movement is compounded by the remoteness of the location and slow negotiations with the local community," the report said. |
| Human rights groups have said the report is an indictment on the policy of offshore processing. | Human rights groups have said the report is an indictment on the policy of offshore processing. |
| Daniel Webb, a lawyer with the Human Rights Law Centre said: "The UNHCR report confirms what the government surely already knows – that its cruel, ineffective and unlawful offshore processing policies are causing grave harm to vulnerable people. | Daniel Webb, a lawyer with the Human Rights Law Centre said: "The UNHCR report confirms what the government surely already knows – that its cruel, ineffective and unlawful offshore processing policies are causing grave harm to vulnerable people. |
| "It's a tragedy that people die at sea when seeking asylum, but it's time the government realised that violating the human rights of survivors is not an effective, humane or lawful policy response. Instead of punishing survivors, we must focus on working with source countries to develop safe pathways to protection for those who need to seek it." | "It's a tragedy that people die at sea when seeking asylum, but it's time the government realised that violating the human rights of survivors is not an effective, humane or lawful policy response. Instead of punishing survivors, we must focus on working with source countries to develop safe pathways to protection for those who need to seek it." |
| The Department of Immigration and Citizenship recognised some of the criticisms contained within the report. A spokesman for the department said: "The Australian government is aware that conditions in the temporary facility are not to the standard that would be expected of a permanent processing centre." | The Department of Immigration and Citizenship recognised some of the criticisms contained within the report. A spokesman for the department said: "The Australian government is aware that conditions in the temporary facility are not to the standard that would be expected of a permanent processing centre." |
| But, in direct opposition to the some of the report's findings, he added: "All people transferred and accommodated in the Manus Island RPC are being treated with dignity and respect and in accordance with human rights standards. | But, in direct opposition to the some of the report's findings, he added: "All people transferred and accommodated in the Manus Island RPC are being treated with dignity and respect and in accordance with human rights standards. |
| "The Australian government is working with the government of Papua New Guinea across a wide range of issues to ensure that the permanent facility is established as quickly as possible. For now, every effort is being made to mitigate the conditions in the temporary centre." | "The Australian government is working with the government of Papua New Guinea across a wide range of issues to ensure that the permanent facility is established as quickly as possible. For now, every effort is being made to mitigate the conditions in the temporary centre." |
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