Refugees and asylum seekers - Amnesty International Australia

In brief

For more than half a decade the Australian Government has sent men, women and children seeking safety – refugees and asylum seekers – to Nauru and Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. Rather than assessing all people asking for protection in a fair, efficient and orderly way, the Australian Government has created a deliberate system of abuse for thousands of adults and children.

Yellow doors on a rundown building, with a sign 'theatre' above it

For more than half a decade the Australian Government has sent men, women and children seeking safety – refugees and asylum seekers – to Nauru and Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.

Rather than assessing all people asking for protection in a fair, efficient and orderly way, the Australian Government has created a deliberate system of abuse for thousands of adults and children.

The people in offshore detention don’t stand alone. We’re a movement of people who won’t stop until refugees and asylum seekers in the Australian Government’s care are safe.

Together and working closely with like-minded organisations, supporters have already helped to:

get all kids off Nauru
see the safe return of Hakeem al-Araibi to Australia
get some of the people trapped on Manus Island to safety: including those now resettled in the US such as Imran Mohammed; Abdul Aziz Muhamat, now in Switzerland; and Behrouz Boochani, now free in New Zealand.

With your help, Amnesty can continue campaigning to bring the people in Australia’s offshore detention centres to safety.

According to the Amnesty International Australia Human Rights Barometer 2022, Australians want an end to offshore detention.

54% of respondents agreed and 20% of respondents strongly agreed that if people are found to be refugees, they should be settled in Australia as opposed to settled or detained offshore. A total of 60% of surveyed Australians think that the Federal Government spends too much money on keeping asylum seekers in detention.

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Get people on Nauru and Papua New Guinea to safety

Who has Australia imprisoned on Manus and Nauru?

Under Australia’s offshore 'processing' policy, people seeking asylum in Australia and who arrive by boat, are sent to Nauru or Manus Island for their refugee claims to be determined.

On the ground in Manus and Nauru

Prolonged and indefinite detention, combined with bleak future prospects, has broken many of the men, women and children in offshore detention.

Sister Jane stands on a lawn in the courtyard at parliament house, Canberra, and delivers a speech about the men on Manus Island

What is Amnesty calling for?

We continue to call on the Australian Government to do the only humane thing — immediately bring the refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island to safety in Australia.