AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE

13 June 2013

Amnesty International: New law allowing mass detention a failure for human rights in New Zealand

Amnesty International is appalled with the New Zealand Government’s decision to implement a law that breaches the rights of people seeking protection from persecution.

The Immigration Amendment Bill passed its third reading tonight, Thursday 13 June, by 63 votes to 53.

Using the new sweeping powers of mass detention in this Act would breach New Zealand’s international obligations under the Refugee Convention and human rights law.

“It is extremely disappointing to see that the Government has pushed forward with this law despite strong criticism from both the New Zealand public and the international community,” said Grant Bayldon, Executive Director at Amnesty International. “The NZ Human Rights Commission and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees were among those who raised their concerns with the Bill.”

Amnesty International is calling on the Government to adopt additional safeguards to ensure that they do not detain already vulnerable people unnecessarily and put New Zealand in breach of its obligations under human rights law,” Bayldon added.

While Amnesty supports the efforts by governments to curb people smuggling, research has shown that harsh, punitive policies imposed on those using smugglers to flee persecution does nothing to deter the people smugglers themselves.

“Amnesty believes that this law will do nothing to counter people smuggling, and the Government should not be targeting the victims but the people smugglers themselves. Unnecessarily locking up women, children and families will violate New Zealand’s international obligations,” said Bayldon.

People with a fear of persecution have a fundamental legal right to seek asylum, whether they have arrived by plane or by boat.

“Detention can fundamentally damage individuals who have already fled torture and situations we can’t even imagine and therefore it is crucially important that detention is used only as a last resort and not on mass in an effort to deter people smugglers.

Experience in countries like Australia has shown that psychological damage caused by detention can last for years after people are released. Detention will not only further, unnecessarily, burden New Zealand taxpayers but robs individuals of the ability to contribute productively to their new country."

Amnesty is also concerned about a number of other amendments in the legislation that apply to all asylum seekers, including limits to judicial review and the suspension of claims.

Amnesty International believes that all these concerning changes jeopardise New Zealand’s international reputation.

ENDS

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