In 2012 Australia experienced an increase in refugees arriving to the country by boat from Southeast Asia. This became a hot button issue during the national elections the same year which ended in the victory of Tony Abbott, who promised to stop the arriving boats. Therefore the offshore-policy, which meant placing refugees in regional processing centers on the two neighbouring islands, was implemented. Human rights organisations have since then heavily criticized Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers in the camps. In light of the current situation as well as the refugee crisis in 2015, what are the practical and legal problems in the implementation of the offshore-policy? And how does the debate in the EU and Denmark regarding refugees differ from Australia’s?
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Måns Molander is the Sweden and Denmark Director of Human Rights Watch.
Date: 21-01-2019
Time: 18:15-19:30
Place: Sal B115, Ekonomikum
Admission: Free for members, 60 kr for non-members. A one-year membership can be purchased at the event for 100 SEK.
In collaboration with Folkuniversitetet.