HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY WARNED OF HIDDEN ABUSES

Sydney, 28 May 2002

Human rights advocates warned on May 25 that the cruel, inhuman and degrading trearment of asylum seekers in Australian detention camps would be hidden from visiting Justice Bhagawati, the Special Envoy chosen by High Commisioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson to investigate conditions of detention with a particular focus on Woomera.

At a meeting in Sydney at the weekend a delegation of church and community organisations described the systematic denial of fundamental human rights in the prison like detention camps.

They highlighted the very recent efforts being made by the Australian Government to sanitise the impression the U.N. Special Envoy would gain at Woomera where painting and planting was underway to improve appearance of detention camps.There had been reports of an appeal to charities for additional furniture and equipment even though many of these basic items should have already been in place.

It was important to remember that these "improvements" had only come about because of  increased scrutiny and extensive concern about living conditions and the treatment of detainees.

However despite the "window dressing" fundamental human rights abuse continues as a direct result of the nature of detention itself combined with the privatisation of management which hides full accountability.

Justice Bhagawati  was requested to personally speak to:

• the people detained for 1,2,3 or more years.
• the men held in isolation cells
• the women separated from husbands released on temporary protection visas who remained in detention with their children as "insurance" against the men absconding
• the children psychologically scarred and those who have engaged in
  self mutilation

Furthermore the Australian government needed to answer the allegations of torture and the reported deportation procedures which involve the forcible use of drugs, physical restraints to legs and arms and the gagging of some deportees.

Human rights advocates recommended that the Australian Government:

• Return to community processing practices
• Work in partnership with Rural Australians for Refugees which has offered to provide housing and support in country towns throughout Australia
• Offer more assistance to sponsors of refugee families
• End the privatisation of management to be replaced by fully accountable professional staff
• Open  up the  issue of refugee policy for public srutiny and debate to ensure Australia is maintaining its share of responsibilty and commitment to human rights standards.

The organisations which met with Justice Bhagawati were:

United Nations Association of Australia: Margaret Reynolds 0418181843
National Council of Churches: James Thomson 02 92992215
Australians for a Just Refugee Program: Jacquie Everitt  02 95661453
Rural Australians for Refugees: Susan Varga 02 48836098
Children Out of Detention:   Junie Ong 0412397788
Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific: Pip Hinman 0412139968
Progressive Young Hazaras of Afghanistan:.Riz Wakil 0405157085
United Nations Youth Association: May Miller Dawkins 0414820662