Australia can expect a grilling over its boat turnback and offshore detention policies for asylum seekers when it appears before the UN Human Rights Council for a performance review.
Monday's four-yearly review in Geneva occurs as Australian authorities try to calm tensions at the Christmas Island detention centre after the death on Sunday of an Iranian Kurdish asylum seeker who escaped from the facility.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in June this year stated that the response of Australia to migrant arrivals had "set a poor benchmark for its neighbours in the region".
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has urged Australia to stop turning boats back and has said mandatory immigration detention was in breach of international human rights obligations and "had led to suicides, self-harming and deep trauma".
In response to the review, the Australian government says it is committed to ensuring Australia's position as one of the top three resettlement countries for refugees.
It says that since the last rights review in 2011 it had "implemented strong border management policies to stem the flow of illegal maritime arrivals, eliminate the people smuggling trade and prevent further loss of life at sea."
"Offshore processing and settlement of refugees in countries other than Australia has deterred many people from taking the dangerous sea voyage to Australia."
Monday's review in Geneva is also expected to scrutinise Australian policies and performance on indigenous rights, including the over-representation of indigenous people in prisons and land rights.
Also under scrutiny are same-sex marriage and disability rights, reports of Australian mining companies' complicity in human rights violations in third countries and whether Australian counter-terrorism laws are in line with international standards.
Share
