Amnesty International is challenging Nauru to walk the talk when it comes to transparency about its Human Rights situation.
Nauru is undergoing its periodic review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Photo: AFP
Among the concerns raised by peers is the Nauru government's interference in the Judiciary, the welfare of refugees sent to the island by Australia, the jailing of political opponents and prohibitive visa fees for journalists wanting to visit the country.
According to Amnesty International's Pacific Researcher, Kate Schuetze, throughout the proceedings Nauru has been defensive and critical of outside scrutiny from people it says have never visited the island.
But Schuetze said many people including herself have tried and failed to get a visa to got to Nauru due to heavy restrictions.
"If you want people to visit and see what it's realy like, then you need to get rid of the high visa fees for outsiders coming into the country and allow them to see for themselves," Scheutze challenged the Nauru government.
Amnesty international is also urging Nauru to take responsibility and help the remaining refugees placed on the island by Australia to resettle.
The Pacific Island country is undergoing its periodic review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Schuetze said that in its submissions to the UN council it seemed like Nauru felt it should be congratulated for doing a great job in taking in refugees.
She said this was far from the reality of the trauma experienced by refugees, and shows a lack of understanding of their rights.
"The one thing Nauru hasn't provided is that long-term security," she explained.
"What we're asking is that the Nauru government allow those people to resettle in third countries, and they help facilitate that where those refugees want to go on to another country that can offer them the safety and protection that they need as refugees."
