Following an 18-day mission to Australia, UN special rapporteur Francois Crepeau said migrant rights had deteriorated under current government policy. "The punitive approach adopted by Australia towards migrants who arrived by boat has served to erode their human rights," he said. "It is a fundamental principle of human rights law that one person cannot be punished only for the reason of deterring another." Crepeau, who visited detention facilities in Australia and the camp at Nauru, acknowledged that Australia had the right to deny entry or return migrants. "Australia must work to fight xenophobia, discrimination and violence against migrants, in acts and speech."

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 18, 2016 03:44 UTC