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Australia fails legal standards in asylum seeker treatment, Gillian Triggs says Inhumane asylum seeker treatment clear from letter, Gillian Triggs says
(35 minutes later)
President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, has read the full report of the Christmas Island doctors and finds clear and chilling evidence that Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers appears inhumane.President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, has read the full report of the Christmas Island doctors and finds clear and chilling evidence that Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers appears inhumane.
"The fifteen medical practitioners make a powerful and credible statement that shouldn't be ignored,” she told Guardian Australia. “The report is carefully written and fully supported by examples and cases that are referenced as evidence."The fifteen medical practitioners make a powerful and credible statement that shouldn't be ignored,” she told Guardian Australia. “The report is carefully written and fully supported by examples and cases that are referenced as evidence.
“The Australian Human Rights Commission considers the treatment of asylum seekers, who are 'unauthorised maritime arrivals', from a human rights perspective. We have long argued that their treatment on Christmas Island is well below international standards and risks breaching established principles of international law.“The Australian Human Rights Commission considers the treatment of asylum seekers, who are 'unauthorised maritime arrivals', from a human rights perspective. We have long argued that their treatment on Christmas Island is well below international standards and risks breaching established principles of international law.
“I visited Christmas Island about a year ago when conditions were manifestly crowded, unhygienic and harsh, especially for children, and the disabled and aged. As a lay observer, I was not able to comment on the quality of the medical services, other than that many of those detained complained of poor medical treatment.“I visited Christmas Island about a year ago when conditions were manifestly crowded, unhygienic and harsh, especially for children, and the disabled and aged. As a lay observer, I was not able to comment on the quality of the medical services, other than that many of those detained complained of poor medical treatment.
“Typically they said that their medical needs were ignored and that they could not get medication other than 'Panadol', for which they had to queue for hours in the sun. I certainly witnessed many with depression, distress and anxiety who said they were not receiving treatment.“Typically they said that their medical needs were ignored and that they could not get medication other than 'Panadol', for which they had to queue for hours in the sun. I certainly witnessed many with depression, distress and anxiety who said they were not receiving treatment.
“The value of this report is that is written by experienced medical practitioners who have been prompted by unsafe practices and 'gross departures' from recognised medical standards. It is chilling in its objective scientific clarity in detailing individual cases.“The value of this report is that is written by experienced medical practitioners who have been prompted by unsafe practices and 'gross departures' from recognised medical standards. It is chilling in its objective scientific clarity in detailing individual cases.
“The report confirms reports from others who have visited Christmas Island over the last two years or so and reinforces my belief, as President of the AHRC, that Australia appears to fail to meet international legal standards of humane treatment of asylum seekers.”“The report confirms reports from others who have visited Christmas Island over the last two years or so and reinforces my belief, as President of the AHRC, that Australia appears to fail to meet international legal standards of humane treatment of asylum seekers.”
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