UN expert says Australia thwarts inquiry into migrant rights

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw.com/en/un-expert-says-australia-thwarts-inquiry-into-migrant-rights/a-18743150

A UN expert on migrant rights has said he delayed a trip to Australia over government restrictions on access to refugee detention centers. He described a gag order on workers at such centers as "unacceptable."

UN expert says Australia thwarts inquiry into migrant rights
26.09.2015

Independent UN expert Francois Crepeau said he had postponed his trip to gather first-hand information on the situation of migrants and asylum seekers in Australia and its detention centers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea after the Australian government denied him access to any offshore center.

Crepeau said the government had also given no satisfactory response to his requests to guarantee that no one would face reprisals for speaking with him about life in the detention centers. Australian law makes it illegal to disclose "protected information" about the centers. Offenders can receive a prison sentence of up to two years for violating the so-called Border Force Act, which went into effect in 2015.

"This threat of reprisals with persons who would want to cooperate with me on the occasion of this official visit is unacceptable," he said in a statement.

"As the Australian government was not prepared to give the written assurances required ... it was not possible for me to carry out the visit in my capacity as a UN independent expert," he added.