The Australian Human Rights Commission found today that asylum seekers were at the risk of being returned to harmful situations in Sri Lanka, under the current government’s ‘enhanced screening process’.
The Commission president, Professor Gillian Triggs, further noted, in their latest report, that Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers and refugees did not meet international standards of law.
The report concluded,
“The Commission is concerned that the enhanced screening process may not contain sufficient safeguards to protect people from being removed to a country where they face a real risk of significant harm.”
According to the report the Australian department of immigration returned 1070 of the 3195 asylum seekers that reached Australian shores during the period of 27th October 2012 and 12th August 2013. The study further that as of September 5th 2013, 6579 people remain in detention facilities, including 1428 children.
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