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Refugees

UN Chief Urges Australia to Reconsider Asylum Seeker Policy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon personally called on Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to reconsider the country's policy on turning back asylum seeker boats during a meeting in Malaysia. The meeting, held on the margins of the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, also discussed conditions in Australia's offshore detention centers on Nauru and Manus Island. Ban raised concerns about the detention conditions and encouraged Turnbull to reconsider Operation Sovereign Borders, Australia's military-led operation to prevent asylum seeker boats from reaching the country's shores.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ban Ki-moon directly called on Malcolm Turnbull to reconsider Australia's policy on turning back asylum seeker boats during a meeting in Malaysia.
  • The UN Secretary General raised concerns about detention conditions in Australia's offshore processing centers, including Nauru and Manus Island.
  • Ban noted Australia's "longstanding commitment to refugee resettlement" and "appealed to the prime minister to share responsibilities."
  • The meeting also discussed the conflict in Syria and Iraq, the prevention of violent extremism, and efforts to tackle climate change.
  • Ban "encouraged Australia to lead efforts to ensure a low-carbon, climate-resilient future" in the lead-up to the Paris summit.
  • The UN's personal plea to Turnbull is not the first time the organization has urged the Australian government to review its asylum seeker policies.
  • The UN refugee agency has previously raised concerns over the conditions on Nauru and Manus Island, where asylum seekers have reported rape and sexual assaults.
  • Reza Barati, an Iranian asylum seeker, was killed during violent clashes on Manus Island in 2014.
  • Labor and the Coalition share the policy of not offering resettlement to people who try to reach Australia by boat.
  • The government has negotiated resettlement in third countries, but only a handful of refugees have agreed to go to Cambodia under an Australia-Xi agreement.

Statistics:

  • Only a handful of refugees have agreed to go to Cambodia under an Australia-Xi agreement.
  • 1 asylum seeker boat was intercepted close to Christmas Island on Friday.
  • Over 1,000 asylum seekers are reportedly waiting for their refugee claims to be processed and for resettlement on Nauru and Manus Island.
  • The UN has previously raised concerns over the conditions on Nauru and Manus Island, where asylum seekers have reported rape and sexual assaults.
  • 1 (not including the Christmas Island boat) in several months, a vessel was intercepted close to Australia's shores.

Sources:

  • Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General, meeting summary (no date provided).
  • Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, speech in Kuala Lumpur (Sunday, 2015).
  • Reza Barati, Iranian asylum seeker, killed during violent clashes on Manus Island (February 2014).
  • Guardian Australia, article on refugee intake after church concerns (October 2015).
  • Turnbull, Malcolm, Prime Minister, comments on Operation Sovereign Borders (Friday, 2015).

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