United Nations (Cosmpolitanist)

• 2021 Universal Periodic Review by the UNHRC

  • Representatives of 122 UN member states participated, each making an intervention of up to 55 seconds, able to make a comment on progress made by Australia or raise current human right concerns and recommendations. 
  • Despite the limited time, 45 participating states commented or made recommendations relating to Australia’s treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum.
• • While Australia claimed to be remained ‘committed’ to managing an ‘equitable system of migration, consistent with [their] non-refoulement obligations and other obligations with respect to the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers’, they ultimately remain underpinned by the ‘commitment’ of upholding ‘strong border protection policies’.  
• The Government will provide $136.7 million in 2022-23 to sustain Operation Sovereign Borders, including maritime surveillance. (REFUGEE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA)
• The UNHCR has repeatedly raised concerns regarding offshore processing, stating that the:

  • ‘legal framework and physical conditions for the detention and treatment of asylum seekers remain below international standards and, overall, do not provide for a safe, fair and human standard of treatment’.