The UN Committee against Torture is scrutinising the treatment of asylum seekers at offshore processing centres on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and on the tiny Pacific republic of Nauru, as well as the detention of children and efforts to combat people smugglers. At a public hearing in Geneva, the committees chairman Claudio Grossman, a Chilean-born lawyer, told the Australian delegation that detainees endured lives of great uncertainty. We hear also that in Nauru the processing of [refugee] claims lasts for around 10 months and in PNG two years. I can imagine that would produce tremendous anxiety in people. I cant imagine the number of people that are there and dont know where they are or what is happening to them, he said. Mr Grossman is among 10 independent anti-torture specialists who are part of the UN investigation into Australias record. The committee says it is concerned that Canberras attempts to drive people-smugglers out of business could be denying those with valid genuine refugee claims the chance to seek asylum in Australia. bbc/news/world-australia-29999913
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 01:19:06 +0000
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