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Pregnant alleged rape victim flies to Australia from Nauru | Pregnant alleged rape victim flies to Australia from Nauru |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Somali woman who became pregnant after allegedly being raped on Nauru has arrived in Australia. | A Somali woman who became pregnant after allegedly being raped on Nauru has arrived in Australia. |
The woman, 23, had requested weeks ago to be transferred from Nauru, part of Australia's offshore network housing people seeking asylum, to Australia so she could have an abortion. | The woman, 23, had requested weeks ago to be transferred from Nauru, part of Australia's offshore network housing people seeking asylum, to Australia so she could have an abortion. |
Australia's top court is currently reviewing the legality of the centres. | Australia's top court is currently reviewing the legality of the centres. |
Thousands of people joined protests at the weekend in support of refugees, and calling for the camps to be closed. | |
Meanwhile, Nauru has dismissed another Somali refugee's allegation she was raped. | |
The authorities said there was insufficient evidence to support the woman's claim she was raped by two Nauruan men. | The authorities said there was insufficient evidence to support the woman's claim she was raped by two Nauruan men. |
Under Australia's tough asylum policy, any irregular migrants trying to reach the country by boat are intercepted and held in centres on Nauru and Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. | Under Australia's tough asylum policy, any irregular migrants trying to reach the country by boat are intercepted and held in centres on Nauru and Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. |
The government says this deters people-traffickers but there has been been criticism of the conditions at the camps. | |
In September, a report by the senate committee found conditions on Nauru were not "appropriate or safe". It said allegations of rape and abuse should be investigated. | |
Australia and asylum | Australia and asylum |
Is Australia's Cambodia solution 'an expensive joke'? | Is Australia's Cambodia solution 'an expensive joke'? |
Australia's controversial asylum policy | Australia's controversial asylum policy |
The 23-year-old Somali woman is reportedly more than 12 weeks pregnant. She alleges she was raped in the Nauruan community. | |
Abortion is illegal in the tiny island nation of Nauru, except where the mother's life is at risk. Rape is not considered a justifiable reason to seek a termination. | |
The Australian government had been under pressure to allow the women to enter the country for medical treatment. | |
"Our client is relieved that there has been a resolution to this sensitive matter," her lawyer George Newhouse told the Sydney Morning Herald. | "Our client is relieved that there has been a resolution to this sensitive matter," her lawyer George Newhouse told the Sydney Morning Herald. |
"She is now in Australia and the Commonwealth government has agreed to provide her with medical treatment," he said, without giving further details. | |
Mr Newhouse said his client was grateful to "concerned Australians for their support" and to officials for their "understanding". | |
But an opposition politician has hit out at the woman's treatment. | |
"You've got to wonder why a young woman's very distressing situation had to become so public and the [prime] minister had to be pleaded with by the Australian people," said Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, AAP reported. | "You've got to wonder why a young woman's very distressing situation had to become so public and the [prime] minister had to be pleaded with by the Australian people," said Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, AAP reported. |