AMNESTY International and DIVA for Equality have released a joint letter that was also co-signed by 84 regional and international civil society organisations, calling on Australia and Pacific Island Countries to address refugee and asylum seekers issues.
Amnesty International regional researcher Roshika Deo and DIVA Equality political advisor Noelene Nabulivou in a joint press conference yesterday in Suva said it was imperative for Pacific leaders to hold Australia and each other accountable to human rights obligations for all refugees and asylum seekers.
The letter stated that as worsening ecological conditions continued to escalate a global refugee crisis, a global human rights benchmark needed to be established with Pacific Leaders at forefront of this change.
The Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting has commenced in Nauru and the letter summarisers the need for leaders to discuss Australia’s cruel treatment of refugees in the Pacific countries of Papua New Guinea and Nauru.
The letter stated that refugees and people that are seeking asylum had been subjected to cruel and and degrading conditions over the past years with widespread reports of violence and sexual harassment of children and women on Nauru.
