Friday, September 25, 2009

Women Face Mutilation

From Di Bain @ ABC News:
The Federal Opposition is refusing to support legislation that could protect two
young Kenyan women who fear they will be mutilated if they are deported from
Australia.

The women came to Australia on tourist visas for last year's World Youth Day and have asked to stay, saying they will be persecuted if they are sent home.

For eight years, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCA) has been fighting for the Government to enshrine in law protection rights for women who faced genital mutilation in their own country.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans says he is still waiting to receive the women's appeal, but has put legislation before the Parliament that would prevent the women being deported.

The laws known as "complementary protection" have been introduced but not yet debated in Parliament.

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