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Somali refugee to return to Australia for medical advice: minister

Xinhua, October 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

A 23-year-old Somali woman who was allegedly raped 15 weeks ago on Nauru is being transferred to Australia for the second time to discuss her abortion and mental health, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Wednesday.

The woman, known as Abyan, was flown to Australia earlier this month for the procedure however she was returned to Nauru five days later for reportedly changing her mind.

Refugee advocates however stressed she was seeking counselling before the procedure so she could make an informed decision.

The United Nations on Wednesday deplored Australia's earlier actions and the growing number of sexual assaults on Nauru that are carried out with impunity, calling on Australia to urgently provide Abyan with adequate protection and care.

Dutton denied the moves were a response to criticism from the United Nations as "these plans have been in the making for some days."

Asylum seekers wishing to reach the Australian mainland are controversially shipped to one of two Australian-run immigration detention centers on PNG's Manus Island and the small pacific nation of Nauru, aimed at stemming the flow of boat arrivals following a tragic deaths at sea.

It's Australia's policy to transfer asylum seekers and refugees requiring care not available at the offshore processing centers to the mainland for treatment.

Meanwhile 150 protested gathered at the detention center operator' AGM in Sydney on Wednesday accusing the company of being complicit in the abuse of asylum seekers.

The demonstrators called for Australia's off-shore immigration processing centers on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea to be closed, accusing operator Transfield of having "blood on its hands" and breaching international law. Endit