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Australia By Invitation Only Australian Asylum Policy Many refugees who come uninvited to Australia are compelled to do so because they cannot find effective protection anywhere else, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released to mark International Human Rights Day. The 94-page report, "By Invitation Only: Australian Asylum Policy," is based on eight months of investigation and challenges the Australian government's policy on asylum seekers as a breach of the country's international obligations to protect refugees. Human Rights Watch found that many asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran were still at risk in the countries through which they passed - such as Jordan or Indonesia - and were unable to access the offices of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or foreign embassies to apply for resettlement. HRW Index No.: C1410 December 10, 2002 Download PDF Purchase online Australia: Child Soldier Global Report 2001 From the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers There are indications of under-18s in government armed forces as there is no minimum age for voluntary recruitment in legislation. In practice the Australian Defence Forces recruit at 17 and in exceptional cases 16. A projected expansion of troop numbers, combined with recruitment and retention problems, is likely to ensure this policy continues. Guidelines have been issued to prevent the deployment of personnel under 18, but some under-18s were deployed with Australian peacekeeping forces to East Timor. Recent cases of bastardisation and ill-treatment in the armed forces raise concerns for young recruits. June 12, 2001 Australia: Landmine Monitor Report 2000 Key developments since March 1999: The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Australia on 1 July 1999. Australia destroyed its stockpile of antipersonnel mines in five days at the end of September 1999. Australia expects to spend a new high of US million on mine action programs in its 1999/2000 budget year. August 1, 2000
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