UN countries line up to criticise Australia's human rights record | Law | The Guardian

10.11.15

UN countries line up to criticise Australia's human rights record | Law | The Guardian: ecause of the large number of countries who wanted to comment on Australia – more than half of the countries of the UN – each nation had only 65 seconds in which to address the broad issue of Australia’s human rights regime.

The issue of asylum seekers dominated concerns.

Indonesia – with whom relations have been strained over Australia’s asylum boat turnbacks – urged Australia to “ensure that the issues of refugees and asylum seekers are addressed in line with the principles of the Bali process and Australia’s other human rights obligations”.

India, a country to where Australia tried to return 157 Sri Lankan asylum seekers, said Australia should review its mandatory detention policies and ensure refugees were never sent back to places where they might face persecution.