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Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants on his mission to Australia and the regional processing centres in Nauru (A/HRC/35/25/Add.3)

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UN HRC
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Note by the Secretariat

The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, on his mission to Australia and the regional processing centres in Nauru from 1 to 18 November 2016.

The Special Rapporteur held consultations with officials of the Government of Australia, migrants, civil society organizations and international organizations. He observed that some of the migration policies of Australia have increasingly eroded the human rights of migrants, in contravention of the country’s international human rights and humanitarian obligations. Australia must develop and implement a human rights-based approach to migration and border management, ensuring that the rights of migrants, including irregular migrants, are always the first consideration.

I. Introduction

1. From 1 to 18 November 2016, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, conducted an official visit to Australia. The visit was undertaken to assess the migration programmes, policies and laws recently developed by the Australian authorities.

2. During his visit to Australia, the Special Rapporteur met with a range of officials from the Federal Government and state governments, with civil society organizations, trade unions, the Australian Human Rights Commission, international organizations, and migrants themselves, to discuss the complex management of the country’s borders.

3. The Special Rapporteur held meetings in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney. He visited the following detention centres: Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre, Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre, Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation, Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation Centre and Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. He also visited the regional processing centres in Nauru.

4. The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the Government of Australia for the support provided throughout the visit.