‘Reprehensible’ decision

Sydney
4 August 2002

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‘Reprehensible’ decision

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‘Reprehensible’ decision

By Kathleen Carmody and Chris Lindsay

The Federal Government decision not to endorse a draft UN protocol against torture is “reprehensible”, says Fr Jim Carty of the Marist Refugee Centre.

Australia voted against the protocol which was designed to reinforce the 1989 UN convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.

The protocol would allow UN groups to inspect prisons and detention centres to check for abuses.

Australia is a signatory to the convention but voted against the protocol, along with Sudan, China, Cuba, Libya, Japan, Nigeria and Egypt, because of concerns about UN groups inspecting our immigration detention centres “at any time”.

“Just look at the list of nations we are aligned with on this; it gives you some idea of the totally reprehensible decision made by Foreign Affairs Minister (Alexander) Downer and the Australian Government,” said Fr Carty.

The US, which has been a vocal opponent of the protocol, was one of 10 nations to abstain; 35 voted in favour.

“At least we … could have abstained rather than vote against it,” says Fr Carty.

Sandie Cornish, of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, agreed the refusal to sign made Australia look bad.

She said the government had taken a philosophical position on the issue for reasons of national sovereignty.

“They feel that sovereign states should deal with these matters rather than international bodies. (But) the point of these international bodies is that sovereign states do not always protect and defend the rights of their citizens and people need to have another forum,” she said.

The Government has rep-eatedly rejected claims that our immigration detention centres are in breach of UN rules, including the convention on the rights of the child and the convention against torture.

“We (Australia) like to say we’re committed to these (UN) standards but we need to be transparent, to have our position evaluated and monitored rather than saying, effectively, ‘trust us’. That’s what oppressive governments do, “ Cornish said.