20 Mar 2015

Report finds evidence of sexual abuse at Nauru camps

8:58 pm on 20 March 2015

A review into systemic abuse at Australia's immigration detention centre on Nauru has found at least two women have reported being raped, while others have faced other forms of sexual assault.

The 86-page review, released on Friday evening, was ordered by then immigration minister Scott Morrison to investigate allegations of assault of asylum seekers, and allegations against the charity Save the Children.

Nine Save the Children staff were ordered to leave Nauru by the immigration department in October, after a three-page security report alleged the staff had encouraged protests and self-harm.

But the report, by Philip Moss, found no information to substantiate these claims.

Mr Moss also found many detainees were apprehensive about their safety and privacy at the centre, and were concerned that making a complaint could have a negative effect on their asylum claims, or that nothing would be done.

The review also found limited resources to investigate complaints on the island, and that more support was needed for authorities on Nauru.

In a statement, the immigration department says it accepts all of the recommendations and has begun work to implement them.