Australia Is No Longer A Human Rights Leader

On February 8, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the appointment of Philip Ruddock – the former immigration minister who presided over the Howard government’s notorious “Pacific Solution” to divert asylum seekers from its shores – as Australia’s first special envoy for human rights. This surprising recycling of Ruddock is a part of the government’s campaign for a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2018-2020 term. Not too long ago, then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia was “sick of being lectured to” by the United Nations. But even the new government is demonstrating…

© Human Rights Watch - samedi 20 janvier 2018