THE International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is currently considering a submission calling for an investigation into Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers.
The submission was officially accepted by the ICC on May 19, 2014, it names senior members of government.
No Fibs has now seen the full submission, however, after advice from experienced investigators, we decided against publishing the document. The advice was publication could harm any possible future investigation. We have published the executive summary (below).
The submission was prepared by lawyer and migration agent Tracie Aylmer, who also does volunteer work in a legal capacity.
Tracie told No Fibs she prepared the submission to ensure international law was upheld and to return humanity to those who have been persecuted.
The submission names:
- Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott
- Minister for Immigration and Border protection Scott Morrison
- Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Michaela Cash
- Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop
- Former Chief of the Defence Force General David Hurley
- Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders Lieutenant General Angus Campbell
The submission calls on ICC prosecutors to use Article 17(2) of the Rome Statute in relation to all onshore and offshore processing. It alleges the Australian government is committing atrocities that are in breach of Article 7 of the convention.
In February this year, the New York Times reported: “Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers sent to offshore processing centers is cruel, inhuman and degrading and it violates international law, the United Nations’ human rights office said”.
In July former director of mental health services at International Health and Mental Services Dr Peter Young gave evidence to the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention.
Young told the inquiry The Department of Immigration and Border protection “asked us to withdraw the figures from our reporting” which showed alarming high levels of mental health problems among young detainees.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been a long-time critic of Australia’s mandatory detention. In 2011 UNHCR regional representative Richard Towle said: “In the Australian context, UNHCR has longstanding concerns that mandatory detention for prolonged periods, particularly in isolated locations and crowded conditions, can quickly impact on the psycho-social health and welfare of asylum-seekers and refugee”.
Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM (@Kon__K) from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre told No Fibs in a statement today: “Under the Abbott Government we have seen for the first time the average time in detention surpass 300 days. The loss of access to legal representation while in detention, a spike in reports of self harm and increased intimidation and pressure to depart Australia while in detention”.
Update: 9news.com.au reports Julian Burnside’s (@JulianBurnside) comments on Tracie’s ICC submission, during his #MarchInAugust Melbourne speech.
View full coverage of developments since this story was published.