Ptr 310 Australian Foreign Policy - Essay Example

Australia is a signatory of “United Nations 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees” and the “1967 Protocol Relating to Refugees” (Nguyen 2004: 1). The policies set for the refugees in the lieu of human rights consider the issues of no penalization for illegal entrants, unacceptability of their exclusion or return and availability of similar rights for refugees and citizens of a state (Nguyen 2004: 1). Australian government has shown its acceptance by being a signatory of the international agreements related to refugees and human rights.

However, Australian government is unable to show acceptance of all these policies by its actions as the refugees that enter illegally to Australia are kept in mandatory detention and they are given restricted information about their lawful rights in Australia (Nguyen 2004: 2). In addition, protection that is provided to the refugees is also very short lived. Australian commitment to universal human rights seems to be violated as the government shows a little concern to the asylum seekers. In the past years, it is noticed that people have tried to fled to Australia for seeking refuge and protection but their rights to seek refuge in the lieu of universal human rights was rejected by the Australian government and the refugees were expelled from Australia to reside to nearby countries to their land.

Penalties were also imposed on the refugees entering Australia due to which, the policies accepted by Australia were violated by its government (Human Rights Watch 2002). Neither the asylum seekers were given their due rights nor other kinds of refugees. According to Human Rights Watch (2002), Australian government has caused serious concerns for the human rights commission as the policies for universal human rights are violated by the country. The refugees are kept under appalling conditions due to which, their protection and security is endangered.

According to Australian government that refugees of a