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Asylum seekers could have rights under U-S Federal Law

A Perth legal academic says asylum seekers could have rights under American Federal law to sue the company that runs Australia's detention centres, in a United States court .

Western Australia Murdoch University Law Professor, Fernand de Varennes, is trying to launch the action on behalf of up to six asylum seekers currently in detention.

Under the Alien Tort Claims Act, individuals from outside the U-S can sue American corporations if their basic human rights are violated.

Dr de Varennes says because the company running the detention centres, Australasian Correctional Management, is a subsidiary of an American company, Wackenhut, it would be possible to hear the case in a U-S court.

He says asylum seekers have a case as their basic human rights have been violated.

At this point there are two headings two counts where individuals could bring a case in my view..under prolonged arbitrary detention and unusual cruel or degrading treatment - conditions that fulfill that requirement.

01/05/2002 11:26:08 | ABC Radio Australia News

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