DESPITE PROGRESS, UN FINDS FAULTS WITH AUSTRALIA'S OFF-SHORE ASYLUM PROCESSING CENTRE

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 12 Jul 2013 13:00:00 -0400
Subject: DESPITE PROGRESS, UN FINDS FAULTS WITH AUSTRALIA'S OFF-SHORE
ASYLUM PROCESSING CENTRE
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

DESPITE PROGRESS, UN FINDS FAULTS WITH AUSTRALIA'S OFF-SHORE ASYLUM
PROCESSING CENTRE
New York, Jul 12 2013 1:00PM
Despite recent improvements, conditions at an offshore processing
centre currently housing 250 people seeking asylum in Australia do not
meet international standards, the United Nations refugee agency said
today, citing "continued and worrying shortcomings" at the facility.

"Living conditions are still harsh, processing remains slow and
asylum-seekers are growing despondent over the lack of certainty about
their future," said Adrian Edwards, spokesperson for the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The agency's second report on the Manus Island Regional Processing
Centre in Papua New Guinea, released today in the Australian capital,
Canberra, is based on the findings of a UNHCR visit last month to
assess conditions.

"The mission found improvements since its last visit in January, but
current arrangements still do not meet international protection
standards for the reception and treatment of asylum-seekers," Mr.
Edwards told reporters in Geneva, where UNHCR is headquartered.

Among the improvements, he cited the transfer of all children and
their families to Australia itself, progress towards establishing a
legal framework for processing, and some improvement in the physical
facilities at the processing centre.

"However, UNHCR's inspection also revealed continued and worrying
shortcomings," said Mr. Edwards. "Freedom of movement is still
extremely limited in what continues to amount to an environment of
open-ended, mandatory and, in UNHCR's view, arbitrary detention."

The team observed cramped living quarters, especially for single men
housed in canvas tents. They told UNHCR that each tent accommodated
four to six men and was very hot especially from late afternoon into
the night. Many asylum-seekers also expressed concern about hygiene
issues related to bathroom facilities and food preparation, and poor
access to medical services.

"The lack of certainty among asylum-seekers over their future coupled
with slow progress in establishing effective processing arrangements
is contributing to pervasive frustration and despondency," noted Mr.
Edwards. "Left unresolved, this can increase psycho-social harm for
those who are affected."

With respect to the legal rights of asylum-seekers, UNHCR's team
observed that, while refugee status determination processing is set to
start in the near future, changes to Papua New Guinea laws and
regulations are required to ensure a fair and efficient process for
all asylum-seekers in the country.

"Overall, UNHCR considers that the combination of a tough physical
environment, restricted legal regime, and slow processing mean that
existing arrangements still do not meet the required international
protection standards, nor the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding
agreed between the two Governments in establishing the Regional
Processing Centre," Mr. Edwards said.

UNHCR is not a signatory to the bilateral agreement between Australia
and Papua New Guinea relating to the processing of asylum-seekers.

"Our position has always been for all asylum-seekers arriving into
Australian territory, by whatever means, and wherever, to be given
access to a full and efficient refugee status determination process in
Australia. This would be consistent with general practice, and in line
with international refugee law," said Mr. Edwards.


Jul 12 2013 1:00PM
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