To our fantastic supporters, Today’s extraordinary revelations in The Guardian put beyond doubt the brutality, cruelty and illegality of the detention of women and children on Nauru. These revelations join our report, Protection Denied, Abuse Condoned, the most recent report by the Australian Lawyers Alliance, Untold Damage, the Moss Review and the Senate Report into conditions on Nauru. “If anyone had any doubt about the cruel, inhumane and criminal abuse of women and children in Nauru, todays revelations should put them to rest,” said Julie Macken, from Australian Women in Support of Women on Nauru. “It would not only be a clear breach of Australia’s duty of care to leave these vulnerable women and kids on this island, it would make Australia an international pariah. This, at a time when Australia is lobbying the UN for a seat on the UN Security Council, underscores how unfit Australia is for such a position,” concluded Macken. “The detention centres on Nauru must be shut immediately, “ said Professor Wendy Bacon. “ There must also be some form of commission or juridical inquiry to ensure those who facilitated this ongoing abuse are held to account.” “The situation in Australia’s detention camps, both on and offshore, is so dire only a Royal Commission could get to the bottom of the systemic abuse experienced by women, children and men in these camps,” said Pamela Curr. “Too many times have I been on the phone to women on Nauru as they told me of assaults and rape. They live in constant fear of further attacks.” “Our politicians know all about this – the broader community may be kept in the dark but both Labor the Coalition know all about this and their silence is taken as consent. This must end,” concluded Curr. Australian Women in Support of Women on Nauru are calling on the Turnbull government to re-join the international community by ending this abuse: First, institute a judicial inquiry into Australian’s off and on shore detention camps and hold those liable to account. Secondly, close the camps on Nauru and Manus. Finally, bring these damaged people to Australia or find third countries immediately. For the women and children on Nauru, AWSWN