The Australian government should cease forced returns of Sri Lankan asylum seekers until they are provided fair, thorough, and transparent processing of their protection claims, Amnesty International, the Human Rights Law Centre, and Human Rights Watch said today. On November 29, 2014, Australian authorities turned over to Sri Lankan authorities a boat carrying 37 asylum seekers.

Human Rights Watch has previously documented the Sri Lankan authorities’ use of torture and rape against ethnic Tamils in detention, including those returned as failed asylum seekers from countries such as Australia.

On December 10-11, the UN High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges will take place in Geneva. The Background Paper of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to the Dialogue states: “Protection screening and refugee status determination should not take place at sea.” This reflects international refugee law, which provides that asylum seekers have an adequate opportunity to make a claim for protection, and the law of the sea, which requires swift embarkation to a place of safety following a rescue.

“Australia’s actions in the Indian Ocean show the yawning gap between its practices and international legal principles,” said Elaine Pearson, Australia director at Human Rights Watch. “Australia shouldn’t ignore the well-documented and politically motivated torture, rape, and ill-treatment of many men and women detained by Sri Lankan security forces.”

The Sri Lankan government should ensure the safety of all the returned asylum seekers, the groups said.