Asylum Seekers and Refugees

The human rights of those who are in immigration detention are of special concern to the Commission. Liberty is a fundamental human right, recognised in major human rights instruments to which Australia is a party. People who are held in detention are particularly vulnerable to violations of their human rights.

Read more about Immigration and Human Rights.

The Commission conducted inspections, interviews, and consultations in 2023 to monitor the human rights of people detained at the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre. The resulting report contains an overview of the key observations, concerns, and provides an assessment of the human rights impacts.

Read the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Inspection Report.

In mid-2022, the Commission conducted inspections, interviews, and consultations to monitor the human rights of people detained in hotel APODs in Melbourne and Brisbane. The resulting report describes the living conditions within hotel APODs and provides an assessment of the human rights impacts.

Review the Use of Hotels as Alternative Places of Detention Report.

As a signatory to a number of international treaties, Australia is obliged to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Australia, regardless of how or where they arrive, and whether they arrive with or without a visa. 

Understand Australia’s international obligations.

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

Read more about standards for immigration detention.

The Commission publishes reports and submissions relating to asylum seekers and refugees.

Browse reports and publications.