VIDEO ABOVE: The Big Exhale' by Manus Island detainee Farhad Bandesh, performed by Melbourne City Ballet
An independent panel of United Nations experts say they're 'deeply concerned' by the health care provided to hundreds of asylum seekers and migrants held in offshore detention facilities.
In the statement, released via the UN Office of the High Commissioner, human rights experts slammed the Australian Government's offshore processing policies.
"The situation of their indefinite and prolonged confinement, exacerbated by the lack of appropriate medical care amounts to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment according to international standards," it read.
Authors included experts on torture and other degrading punishments, the right to physical and mental health as well as the general violation of human rights and self-determination.
The group urged the Australian Government to provide 'appropriate' healthcare to those held in detention, and to transfer those requiring urgent medical attention to Australia.
The integrity of these individuals, including their mental health, has been deteriorating with fatal consequences.
The statement also took aim at how the Australian Government has responded to previous correspondence (and concerns) from the UN about these issues.
They noted that an earlier reply from the Australian Government claimed "no one is denied appropriate healthcare."
However, experts said that's simply not the case; listing a range of information received since 2014 that has led them to believe otherwise.
They noted several reported cases of death due to lack of health care, deteriorating mental and physical health of those still in detention (exacerbated by the extended amount of time in custody), as well as cases of chronic illness left und
The experts also claim that in a number of cases, service providers and private security have themselves failed to facilitate access to healthcare.
The Christmas Island immigration detention facilities - which the government reopened in response to earlier health concerns - was also singled out.
We are concerned that some of these facilities are detention-like, which should not be used to host asylum seekers or refugees.
The UN experts recommended that Australia look to long-term solutions for migrants that do not involve offshore processing.
"Australia has the ultimate responsibility for migrants who are transferred to its offshore facilities and should remedy the situation without any delay to prevent any further harm to these individuals, including devastating impacts on their physical and mental integrity, and loss of life."
