canberra<u+2014>the united nations<u+2019> top human rights envoy urged europe not to view australia as a model for solving the continent<u+2019>s migrant crisis, condemning australia<u+2019>s system of offshore detention for asylum seekers as <u+201c>cruel, inhuman and degrading.<u+201d> fran<u+00e7>ois crepeau, the u.n. special rapporteur on migrant human rights, said here on friday the recent u.s. deal to accept a some refugees from australian-backed detention centers in the pacific showed that the country<u+2019>s <u+201c>punitive<u+201d> approach was unraveling. <u+201c>australia has seen the cost of this,<u+201d> said mr. crepeau at the end of a 18-day inspection of the country and a detention camp set up by canberra in nauru. <u+201c>it<u+2019>s a financial cost, it<u+2019>s a political cost and it<u+2019>s been a reputational cost.<u+201d> for more than a decade australia has faced international criticism of its efforts to deter asylum seekers and unauthorized migrants, including a military-style blockade of vessels at sea and remote detention of those on board to assess refugee claims. the u.n. and rights groups like amnesty international have reproached australia over conditions in pacific camps, including alleged instances of sexual abuse. successive australian governments have defended the policies as necessary to deter criminal trafficking of vulnerable refugees. germany<u+2019>s interior ministry recently said such tougher australia-style policies was potentially a partial solution for european countries grappling with more than 1 million people who have fled conflicts in syrian and africa. right-wing european politicians in other countries have praised australia<u+2019>s system. prime minister malcolm turnbull <u+2019>s conservatives hope an agreement announced last week will allow it to send as many as 1,200 refugees to the u.s. and shut two pacific detention centers. australia in september agreed to take refugees from u.s.-backed camps in costa rica. australian officials have expressed uncertainty whether the agreement can be completed before the obama administration leaves office in january. and rights groups worry such a deal wouldn<u+2019>t be honored by president-elect donald trump, who has voiced a harder stance on immigration , especially muslims. most of the australian-held asylum seekers come from afghanistan, pakistan, iraq, iran and sri lanka. <u+201c>we are proceeding on the basis that the u.s. government honors its obligation,<u+201d> said michael pezzullo, the head of the country<u+2019>s immigration department, in testimony to lawmakers last week. but mr. crepeau said he was hopeful the deal reached with the u.s. would survive mr. trump<u+2019>s presidency. he said u.s. resettlement would begin <u+201c>probably before mr trump<u+2019>s jan. 20 inauguration and continue after. mr. crepeau said europe<u+2019>s crisis had led to a more cooperative international approach to migrant movement, evidenced by the obama administration<u+2019>s hosting of a refugee summit in september. the rights envoy also commended australia<u+2019>s recent agreement to take in 12,000 refugees from syria beyond the nearly 14,000 it took in under a humanitarian program the past year. but he said australia<u+2019>s human rights record had been damaged by its migration policies. <u+201d>australia would vehemently protest if its citizens were treated like this by other counties and especially if australian children were treated like this,<u+201d> mr. crepeau said. write to rob taylor at rob.taylor@wsj.com
u.n. rights envoy urges europe to avoid australia<u+2019>s <u+2018>cruel<u+2019> migrant model - wsj
rob taylor