Nauru

Good news: Immigration Minister Dutton: It's the least you could do

Campaign Update: Abyan has arrived in Australia for medical treatment and has thanked the Australians who rallied to ensure she was brought to the mainland for her termination procedure. 

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A 23 year-old refugee woman who has allegedly been raped on Nauru, and who is now pregnant as a result, is pleading with the Prime Minister to be allowed to come to Australia to have an abortion. But the government isn't responding to her request.1

The woman - being referred to as "Abyan" - is 11 weeks pregnant. Advocates say they have been appealing to the government to act since last week, but have had no response, and that "time is quickly running out... a traumatised and vulnerable woman's health and safety is at stake." 

We know consistent community campaigning has forced the government to act in situations like this before. Can you join the campaign calling on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to urgently address this appalling situation - and help make the call for action so loud the government can't ignore it?

More information

The United Nations say it's actually illegal to have a termination on Nauru. Further, the hospital facilities and medical practitioners are not equipped to perform such a termination on the island.2

Horrifically, there's a precedent around this issue. Earlier this year a 23-year-old Iranian woman who was allegedly raped on Nauru was flown to Australia for medical treatment -- but it took authorities three weeks and imminent organ failure to transport her.3 We can't let this happen again. Abyan needs urgent access to medical and trauma support services.  

There is an epidemic of sexual violence on Nauru – with weekly reports of catastrophic sexual assaults of refugee women.4

Just weeks ago, Prime Minister Turnbull called violence against women is one of the great shames of Australia. He’s right. And part of that shame is the violence being perpetuated against refugee women on Nauru. Acting to ensure Abyan receives the urgent medical services and trauma support she needs would be a very small step in the right direction. 

More information

1. Refugee raped on Nauru begs Malcolm Turnbull to let her come to Australia for an abortion, The Age, 6 October 2015.

2. Shorten demands Government help alleged Nauru rape victim seeking abortion, ABC News, 8 October 2015.

3. Family of Iranian woman raped on Nauru at breaking point, say refugee advocates, ABC News, 5 October 2015.

4. When will the Turnbull government act on the sexual violence epidemic on Nauru? Daily Life, 7 October 2015.

4,153 SIGNATURES SO FAR

The Hon. Peter Dutton, MP,

We call on you to urgently act to ensure the woman known as Abyan is brought to Australia for appropriate medical treatment and trauma support.

Signed,

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Latest activity

Danielle , 5061  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:41:36 +1100
Kate , 2913  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:36:08 +1100
Karis , 2622  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:34:03 +1100
"Nauru is not a safe place for foreign women. Please consider changing your policy and in the meantime allow the several raped foreign women to have abortions or any other medical treatment they request, in Australia. Thank you."
Margo , 2480  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:32:18 +1100
John , 4224  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:27:19 +1100
"I am concerned about violence against women. Any person who has been assaulted has the right to seek medical help, and to expect the law to track down and deal with the offenders. When proper medical help is not available and the person is a victim of Australia’s policy towards refugees and asylum seekers and taxpayers money is being used to perpetuate that discrimination and inhumane treatment, we must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the individual. It is our responsibility to enable the young woman in question to have a safe abortion and be treated in safety, and not subjected to a situation where this could happen again."
Sue , 2062  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:24:13 +1100
"Asylum seekers deserve the same respect as all other women under Australian governance."
Helen , 2606  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:20:06 +1100
"I feel that in these circumstances, the only person who should make the decision to have an abortion is "Abyan’ herself. She is the one who has endured this horror and will bear the consequences of her detention on Nauru for the rest of her life. How can we deny her wishes and pretend to be a compassionate nation?"
Del , 1021  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:19:57 +1100
"Minister Dutton, do you have a heart? This woman is suffering for no fault of her own. She needs help."
Leonie , 3199  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:09:33 +1100
"Have you ever been raped and as a result been forced to go through a pregnancy. I wouldn’t think so. Where is your humanity. Let this girl have some peace."
David , 2320  /  signed 2015-10-09 12:06:09 +1100
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