[Greens-Media] Hypocrisy undermines Australia’s bid for seat on UN Human Rights Council

[Schultz-Byard, Noah (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Hypocrisy undermines Australia’s bid for seat on UN Human Rights Council

The Australian Government’s announcement that it will bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council is astonishing, considering the egregious treatment it has inflicted upon the rights of vulnerable people asking for Australia’s protection.

“It is frankly unbelievable that this government expects a seat on the Human Rights Council as a reward for breaching the rights of thousands of vulnerable people,” the Greens’ Human Rights spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“The government’s cruel and ineffective refugee policy is an international embarrassment, so it’s incredible that the Foreign Minister now thinks we can dictate to other countries on human rights standards.

“Indefinite imprisonment, offshore detention, locking up children and refusing refugees their right to work are just some of the ways this government is thumbing its nose at the Declaration of Human Rights and other UN conventions.

“Despite the government’s flagrant disregard for the human rights of refugees it now thinks it can swan on to the very committee that oversees those rights.

“How does the government plan to explain the 2000 refugee children it currently has locked up in detention?

“The government made this announcement on the same day that the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights said that it is concerned Australia is breaching international human rights obligations in its treatment of refugees.

“The Greens know what it takes to stand up for people’s human rights and will continue to work tirelessly towards a more caring society.”


Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760




NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  MEDIA ADVISER

OFFICE OF SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG
AUSTRALIAN GREENS SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
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