Refugee forced into prostitution
BY SIMON BUTLER
A Colombian asylum seeker, who was forced into prostitution in Australia, has been refused a protection visa by the Refugee Review Tribunal. She may now be forcibly returned to her home country, where she would suffer persecution.
Amnesty International is launching a campaign to pressure the minister of immigration, Philip Ruddock, to grant a humanitarian visa.
The asylum seeker was brought to Australia by another Colombian national after being told she would get a job as a cleaner. Upon arrival, her passport was taken from her and she was forced to work for a prostitution syndicate. Upon her escape she gave evidence to the NSW police about the syndicate, but those responsible have yet to be charged with any offence.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and the tribunal acknowledged that the asylum seeker was likely to face persecution from the syndicate if returned to Colombia. They maintained, however, that this would not suffice as a "Refugee Convention reason".
Amnesty has pointed out that as a signatory to the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, Australia has supposedly expressed its opposition to the trafficking of women.
Ruddock's refusal to grant a protection visa for the Colombian asylum seeker comes on top of his statements alleging that refugees are "double dipping from welfare services" and rorting the welfare system. This contradicts a joint report of state and territory community service ministers. Most refugees released from government detention centres are not eligible for federal government assistance.
Graham Thom from Amnesty International told Green Left Weekly, "It is the responsibility of the minister for immigration to ensure that women who are suffering specific gender-related violations receive protection. This is what the Refugee Convention should be doing."
Amnesty is asking people to urge Ruddock to allow the Colombian asylum seeker to remain in Australia. Appeals should be addressed to: Hon. Philip Ruddock, Minister of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600. Fax 02 6273 4144.