PNG ‘must safeguard refugees’

PAPUA New Guinea is responsible for the human rights of refugees sent to a remote island by Australia, the UN human rights chief has said, as advocates warn the men are living in fear of violence from local residents.

Some 600 men were moved out of an Australian-run camp on PNG’s Manus Island in November to three transit centres after a local court ruled the facility was unconstitutional.

The men have expressed fears for their safety at the centres, and also accused Australian and PNG authorities of not providing them with adequate health care.

In a day-long visit to PNG on Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein raised his concerns about the refugees’ plight during meetings with the government.

“The government has the responsibility to ensure that while these individuals are on their territory, they have access to their basic necessities and their basic rights, including the right to adequate housing and food,” the High Commissioner’s spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said Sunday.

Shamdasani added the High Commissioner had also raised such concerns with Australian officials on a number of occasions.

“He will be following up on the cases of these detainees with Australia as well,” she said.

The men were brought to Manus as part of a harsh Australian immigration policy that bars asylum seekers who try to reach the country by boat from resettling there.