Human Rights in Papua New Guinea: Is this Where We Should Be Settling Refugees?

(2016) 22(1) Australian Journal of Human Rights 27

39 Pages Posted: 4 Oct 2016

See all articles by Paula Gerber

Paula Gerber

Monash University - Faculty of Law

Cai Wilkinson

Deakin University

Anthony John Langlois

Flinders University

Baden Offord

Curtin University

Date Written: October 3, 2016

Abstract

Australia has had a long, and at times tumultuous, relationship with our nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea. This relationship took a twist in late 2012, with the re-opening of the off-shore processing centre on Manus Island, and again in February 2014, when Iranian asylum seeker Reza Berati was murdered by locals during a violent disturbance at the centre. The latest test of the strength and endurance of the relationship between PNG and Australia came in April 2016, when the PNG Supreme Court ruled that the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island breached the right to personal liberty in the PNG constitution. This article provides much-needed insight into the human rights situation in PNG, and makes recommendations regarding the prospect of resettling refugees in that country.

Keywords: Papua New Guinea, PNG, human rights, refugees, asylum seekers, Manus Island

JEL Classification: K10, K33

Suggested Citation

Gerber, Paula and Wilkinson, Cai and Langlois, Anthony John and Offord, Baden, Human Rights in Papua New Guinea: Is this Where We Should Be Settling Refugees? (October 3, 2016). (2016) 22(1) Australian Journal of Human Rights 27, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2847427 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2847427

Paula Gerber (Contact Author)

Monash University - Faculty of Law ( email )

Wellington Road
Clayton, Victoria 3800
Australia

Cai Wilkinson

Deakin University ( email )

221 Burwood Hwy
Burwood, Victoria 3125
Australia

Anthony John Langlois

Flinders University ( email )

GPO Box 2100
Adelaide S.A. 5001, SA 5063
Australia

Baden Offord

Curtin University ( email )

Kent Street
Bentley
Perth, WA WA 6102
Australia

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