UN states discuss Nauru's rights concerns

Transcript

United Nations member states are expected to express their concerns about human rights issues in Nauru like press freedom and the treatment of refugees at a review this week.

Nauru is one of 14 countries being examined as part of the UN Universal Periodic Review process in Geneva.  

During its 2011 review, Nauru were issued over 30 recommendations as it was only party to one international convention.

Nauru has also been criticised more recently for perceived infringements of human rights.

But the acting head of the UN Human Rights Office for the Pacific, Catherine Phuong, told Koro Vaka'uta that Nauru has improved its standing by ratifying more treaties and submitting rights reports.

CATHERINE PHUONG:  This shows that Nauru is more willing to engage with UN human rights mechanisms.  There were also other recommendations in 2011 and they covered a broad range of topics, including visits by special rapporteurs, the abolition of the death penalty, domestic violence, child abuse or the criminalisation of same-sex relations.  As is often the case there has been more progress in some areas than others.  For instance, Nauru has adopted legislation which prohibits corporal punishment in schools, but there was less progress on other issues.  For instance the death penalty has not been abolished yet and there is still a need to develop legislation on gender equality, on domestic violence or child protection.

KORO VAKA'UTA:  Nauru has been getting a lot of negative publicity and opposition from rights groups like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, they've been very vocal about access to press.  For its part, the government there says it has no obligation to foreign media.  How does that fit with recommended human rights practices?

CP:  Freedom of the press is an integral part of freedom of expression and is extremely important in any democratic society.  The special rapporteur on freedom of expression has commented on several occasions.  He has said that the very high fees for journalists were especially problematic in a small country where there are very few journalists and limited media outlets.  There will be questions on freedom of expression during the upcoming human rights review.  I am sure discussions will be very interesting.   

KV:  As well as that, the same human rights groups as well as refugee advocates have highlighted concerns about the asylum seeker refugee programme that Australia and Nauru share.  How can this process affect or address those concerns?

CP:  During the upcoming review several states will ask questions and make recommendations to Nauru on this issue.  The other side of the equation is Australia and it just happens that Australia will also be reviewed in Geneva during the same session.  I think it is hard to predict whether the UPR process will have any impact on Nauru and Australia's refugee policy but one thing we know for sure is that several states will be asking both countries questions on the situation of asylum seekers and refugees.

KV:  Do you feel that this mechanism is helpful in addressing concerns when it comes to those sorts of things?

CP:  Australia and Nauru seem to be very willing to engage in the Universal Periodic Review process and it is an opportunity for other states to ask questions and to make recommendations.  I think this process is important in terms of raising those issues and having an open discussion.