UNHCR Expresses Concern Over Departure from International Norms in Australia-Cambodia Agreement on Refugee Relocation (September 26, 2014) [1]
On September 26, 2014, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees expressed concern over the recent agreement [3] between Australia and Cambodia on refugee relocation, entitled “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of The Kingdom of Cambodia and The Government of Australia, Relating to The Settlement of Refugees in Cambodia.” According to a news article [4], under the agreement, “Australia will relocate refugees currently being held on the Pacific island of Nauru to Cambodia.” As such, “people who are recognized as refugees in Nauru will be offered permanent settlement in Cambodia and are barred from settlement in Australia.” UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres called the agreement a “departure from international norms” while also stating “[i]t’s crucial that countries do not shift their refugee responsibilities elsewhere.”