The regional office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has joined other refugee and rights groups publicly slamming a deal (which would send asylum seekers from Nauru to Cambodia) in which it wants no part. “We are deeply concerned about the precedent being set by this type of arrangement that in the first instance, transfers asylum seekers who have sought Australia’s protection to Nauru, in conditions that have previously been described as harmful, then re-locates refugees recognised in Nauru to Cambodia,” UNHCR regional spokesperson Vivian Tan said from Bangkok, in response to questions from Crikey. “Asylum seekers should ordinarily be processed and benefit from protection in the territory of the state where they arrive, or which otherwise has jurisdiction over them.” Tan says that in a time of massive displacement in places like Iraq, Syria and South Sudan, the “global refugee system is undermined when states deny access to territory for certain categories of asylum seekers and refugees, including those who arrived by boat”. She adds that the UNHCR is concerned by any practice that goes against “the spirit of international protection of refugees by relocating refugees to another country where they may not be able to access fundamental rights”, or that may allow a state that has signed onto the Refugee Convention -- e.g. Australia -- to divest itself of its responsibility under the Refugee Convention. media.crikey.au/dm/newsletter/dailymail_8605d2b9484b446c8e300b11c381d72b.html
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 13:00:23 +0000
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