"I think Australia is responsible for the damage inflicted to these asylum seekers and refugees, and that the confinement amounts to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment," Crepeau said, as quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald.
The UN special rapporteur announced the completion of his 18-day mission aimed at investigating the treatment of detainees in Australia, with the official report by the United Nations to be released soon. The Australian government did not accept the comments made by the UN special rapporteur, citing factual inaccuracies and misleading characterizations, according to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection statement.
The offshore detention centers for refugees on Nauru Island and on Manus Island of Papua New Guinea were established by the Australian government. Currently there are almost 1,200 people detained in the camps. The camps appeared as a result of an inflow of unauthorized arrivals of asylum seekers on boats.
