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Australia and PNG governments don't fulfil human rights duties: Amnesty Australia and PNG governments don't fulfil human rights duties: Amnesty
(4 months later)
The Australian and Papua New Guinea governments are failing to meet human rights commitments set out in refugee agreements between the two nations, says Amnesty International’s submission to the Manus Island Senate inquiry. The Australian and Papua New Guinea governments are failing to meet human rights commitments set out in refugee agreements between the two nations, says Amnesty International’s submission to the Manus Island Senate inquiry.
Amnesty’s submission details further eyewitness accounts of the unrest at the centre in February which led to the death of an Iranian asylum seeker, Reza Barati, and serious injuries to dozens of others.Amnesty’s submission details further eyewitness accounts of the unrest at the centre in February which led to the death of an Iranian asylum seeker, Reza Barati, and serious injuries to dozens of others.
In its submission it says the injuries sustained by those at the centre were “not being adequately cared for” and recommended that asylum seekers who witnessed violence or were injured at the centre be removed immediately.In its submission it says the injuries sustained by those at the centre were “not being adequately cared for” and recommended that asylum seekers who witnessed violence or were injured at the centre be removed immediately.
“The Australian and PNG governments share responsibility for the violence which led to the death of Reza Berati and must prevent further violence from happening,” said Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International Pacific researcher.“The Australian and PNG governments share responsibility for the violence which led to the death of Reza Berati and must prevent further violence from happening,” said Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International Pacific researcher.
“They must guarantee the safety of the asylum seekers detained there and provide adequate medical and rehabilitative programs to those injured in the recent violence.”“They must guarantee the safety of the asylum seekers detained there and provide adequate medical and rehabilitative programs to those injured in the recent violence.”
Amnesty representatives visited the centre in late March while a PNG-initiated human rights inquiry was being conducted.Amnesty representatives visited the centre in late March while a PNG-initiated human rights inquiry was being conducted.
The submission says the ablution blocks for asylum seekers were “dilapidated, dirty and mouldy, and several were broken or did not have running water”. It says neither the PNG nor Australian government had demonstrated progress on the recommendations made in Amnesty’s earlier report into the facility.The submission says the ablution blocks for asylum seekers were “dilapidated, dirty and mouldy, and several were broken or did not have running water”. It says neither the PNG nor Australian government had demonstrated progress on the recommendations made in Amnesty’s earlier report into the facility.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also lodged a submission, and said conditions on Manus Island were not meeting international standards.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also lodged a submission, and said conditions on Manus Island were not meeting international standards.
“Cumulatively, the harsh conditions for asylum seekers at the centre, the slowness of RSD [refugee status determination] processing and the lack of clarity regarding RSD processes and approximate timeframes for durable solutions for refugees, were punitive in nature for those affected, and did not provide safe and humane conditions of treatment for asylum seekers in detention as required under international law,” the UNHCR wrote. “Cumulatively, the harsh conditions for asylum seekers at the centre, the slowness of RSD [refugee status determination] processing and the lack of clarity regarding RSD processes and approximate timeframes for durable solutions for refugees, were punitive in nature for those affected, and did not provide safe and humane conditions of treatment for asylum seekers in detention as required under international law,” the UNHCR wrote.
The submission said vulnerable asylum seekers who had been victims of torture and trauma were “likely to be of growing concern” because of uncertainty surrounding processing.The submission said vulnerable asylum seekers who had been victims of torture and trauma were “likely to be of growing concern” because of uncertainty surrounding processing.
G4S, the private company that ran the centre during the unrest but which has since been replaced by Transfield, has previously told Guardian Australia it would address some of the issues raised in statements to the inquiry in its own submission.G4S, the private company that ran the centre during the unrest but which has since been replaced by Transfield, has previously told Guardian Australia it would address some of the issues raised in statements to the inquiry in its own submission.