Publications

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Children in immigration detention: statements by the United Nations

2015 United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: ‘...by failing to provide adequate detention conditions; end the practice of detention of children; and put a stop to the escalating violence and tension at the Regional Processing Centre...

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Tell Me About: Children in immigration detention in Nauru

Transfer of asylum seeker children to Nauru On 13 August 2012 the Australian Government reintroduced a system of third country processing for asylum seekers who arrive by boat without a valid visa. Under this system these asylum seekers, including children, must be transferred to a third country as...

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2014)

Australia currently holds about 800 children in mandatory closed immigration detention for indefinite periods, with no pathway to protection or settlement. This includes 186 children detained on Nauru. Children and their families have been held on the mainland and on Christmas Island for, on average...

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014: Discussion Paper

Why are we holding this inquiry? The purpose of this inquiry is to investigate the ways in which life in immigration detention affects the health, well-being and development of children. The inquiry will assess the impact on children by seeking the views of people who were previously detained as...

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Tell Me About: Temporary Protection Visas

Learn about temporary protection visas for asylum seekers and refugees.

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Casenote: FKAG v Australia and MMM v Australia

F.K.A.G. et al. v Australia (UN Doc CCPR/C/108/D/2094/2011) and M.M.M. et al. v Australia (UN Doc CCPR/C/108/D/2136/2012) 20 August 2013 Summary The UN Human Rights Committee has found that the indefinite detention of 46 refugees with adverse security assessments was arbitrary and amounted to cruel...

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Tell Me About: The ‘Enhanced Screening Process’

1. What is the ‘enhanced screening process’? Since October 2012 an ‘enhanced screening process’ has been applied to all unauthorised maritime arrivals from Sri Lanka to identify whether they are raising claims that engage Australia’s non-refoulement obligations. Australia’s non-refoulement...

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Background paper: Human rights issues raised by visa refusal or cancellation under section 501 of the Migration Act

This background paper sets out some basic information about the process of visa refusal and cancellation under section 501, and discusses these human rights concerns about the process and its consequences.

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Human Rights standards for immigration detention

This publication, Human rights standards for immigration detention, sets out benchmarks for the humane treatment of people held in immigration detention

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Immigration detention on Christmas Island - Observations from visit to Immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Background 3 Summary 4 Activities undertaken during the visit 5 Overview: immigration detention on Christmas Island 6 Third country processing of asylum seekers’ protection claims 6.1 Information about third country processing arrangements 6.2 Pre-transfer risk assessment...

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Human rights issues raised by the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries

NOTE: This paper was updated in 2013- click here for the updated version. Contents Introduction Summary Background What are Australia’s international obligations to asylum seekers who are subject to transfer to third countries? What are the Commission’s key concerns about the third-country...

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

DIAC Response to the Australian Human Rights Commission report on the use of community arrangements for asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons who have arrived to Australia by boat

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) report on the use of community arrangements for asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons who have arrived to Australia by boat.