UNHCR asks Australia to clarify reported asylum seeker 'push-offs'
The UN refugee agency has sought clarification from the government of Australia about reports that it is preventing vessels which may be carrying asylum seekers from entering Australian territorial waters. The new reports follow Australia's refusal in recent weeks to admit two earlier groups of possible asylum seekers attempting to reach the country by boat.
CANBERRA, September 14 (UNHCR) - The UN refugee agency's Canberra office has sought clarification from the government about reports that Australia is preventing vessels which may be carrying asylum seekers from entering its territorial waters. The request for clarification comes after Australian media reported two boats with possible asylum seekers being refused entry to Australia in recent days.
In a statement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it was concerned that asylum seekers may be facing rejection at the Australian border without being granted access to fair and effective procedures for determining their status. "Any such rejection runs counter to a number of conclusions reached by UNHCR's Executive Committee, of which Australia is a member, and are incompatible with general obligations voluntarily assumed by Australia under the 1951 Refugee Convention," the agency said.
UNHCR also expressed concern that Australia's measures could reverse an "important and longstanding humanitarian tradition against so-called 'push-offs'". Australia played a significant role in the international effort in the 1970s and early 80s to ensure the rescue of Indo-Chinese boat people and to combat "push-offs" by coastal states.
In addition to the two recently reported boat arrivals, Australia saw the arrival in late August 2001 of over 430 asylum seekers rescued at sea by the Norwegian freighter Tampa. A further 200 asylum seekers were intercepted at sea by Australian naval vessels on September 8. The Australian Federal court ruled that Australia's refusal to allow the asylum seekers aboard the Tampa to enter Australia was illegal. The government has appealed the decision.
Related news and stories
Global photo project shows power of football during displacement
The Kenyan powerhouse improving women's lives in Australia
UN refugee chief welcomes cities' support for refugees
UNHCR appeals to Australia to act and save lives at immediate risk
UNHCR urges Australia to end separation of refugee families
'We must believe we can make a difference and we can do things better' - Andrew Harper
Your search for « Asylum Seeker australia » matched 2053 results. Only the first 1,000 results are displayed. Displaying page 5 of 112 pages.
-
Number of asylum-seekers remains stable over 2009, UNHCR figures show
23 Mar 2010 ... Guterres on Tuesday dismissed claims that asylum-seekers are flooding into developed nations as his ... 15% USA/Canada 79,100 86,500 82,300 -5% Australia/New Zealand 4,200 5,000 6,500 30% Japan/...... -
Asylum Trends in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, 1999-2001: provisional analysis
31 Jan 2002 ... TRENDS IN ASYLUM APPLICATIONS LODGED IN EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, 2001 ANALYSIS OF THE ... to determine the number of asylum-seekers and refugees authorized to stay. ...... -
Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in Distress at Sea - How Best to Respond? Expert Meeting in Djibouti, 8-10 November 2011: Concept Note
8 Nov 2011 ... Refugees and asylum-seekers in distress at sea – how best to respond? Expert Meeting Djibouti, 8 ... numbers of sea arrivals in Australia, and the outflow of people from North Africa to Europe. ...... -
New "excision" law does not relieve Australia of its responsibilities towards asylum-seekers - UNHCR
22 May 2013 ... The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday reiterated its concerns about the treatment of asylum-seekers arriving by sea to Australia. According to new ...... -
2004 Global Refugee Trends: Overview of refugee populations, new arrivals, durable solutions, asylum seekers and other persons of concern to UNHCR
17 Jun 2005 ... NEW ARRIVALS, DURABLE SOLUTIONS, ASYLUM-SEEKERS, STATELESS AND OTHER PERSONS OF CONCERN TO ... The main countries which resettled refugees through UNHCR were USA (63%), Australia (19%), ...... -
UNHCR urges Australia to review policy of detaining asylum seekers
1 Feb 2002 ... GENEVA, Feb. 1 (UNHCR) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Friday welcomed the end of protests by asylum seekers in Australia's Woomera detention centre, but urged the government in ...... -
UNHCR Protection Training Manual for European Border and Entry Officials - 7. The Return of Persons not in Need of International Protection. Annex 11 - The Removal of Failed Asylum-Seekers: International Norms and Procedures
2011 ... NEW ISSUES IN REFUGEE RESEARCH Research Paper No. 145 The removal of failed asylum seekers: ... EU member states, Norway, Switzerland and Australia and with some references to law and ...... -
Vulnerable or invisible? Asylum seekers with disabilities in Europe. Clara Straimer
10 Nov 2010 ... NEW ISSUES IN REFUGEE RESEARCH Research Paper No. 194 Vulnerable or invisible? asylum seekers with disabilities in Europe Clara Straimer University of Oxford E-mail: [email protected] ...... -
National Partners
... and support to refugees, returnees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people. There are presently 10 UNHCR National Partners: Australia for UNHCR España con ACNUR Fundación ......