SYDNEY—Australia risks losing its status as a strong supporter of human rights if it does not act accordingly, says Elaine Pearson, the head of Human Rights Watch (HRW) in Australia.
“Australia’s own human rights record, particularly in regards to the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, has really affected its credibility to be outspoken on a number of issues,” Ms Pearson said.
In an interview with Epoch Times, Ms Pearson said Australia, one of the largest and oldest democracies in the region, has traditionally been an active proponent of human rights.
“It has robust institutions, strong freedom of the press, freedom of expression and as such it should be playing a leading role in promoting human rights in the region,” she said.
Recently, however, Australia has been projecting a dismissive attitude towards rights, ignoring concerns about immigration detention policies and rushing national security legislation, Ms Pearson says.
She cited Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s recent negative comments about a UN report that said Australia’s offshore detention facilities are in breach of the country’s international obligations. Mr Abbott’s criticism of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its call for a Royal Commission into child detention does not reflect well on Australia, she says.
