The Nauruan government has announced it will allow some asylum seekers to move freely outside the Nauru detention centre “24 hours per day”.
On Friday, the government posted a notice stating it would introduce legislation to expand the open centre arrangements at the detention facility. The changes would appear to allow asylum seekers greater movement outside the detention centre.
It remains unclear whether this means the Nauruan government would allow asylum seekers to live outside the detention centre indefinitely.
“from Monday, open centre arrangements of the RPC will be expanded…24 hours per day, 7 days per week” #Nauru pic.twitter.com/xdPdmRu2qs
— Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) October 3, 2015
If it did, it would represent a significant change in policy for both Nauru and the Australian government.
The notice from the Nauruan government said: “Open centre arrangements for the regional processing centre will be expanded to allow for freedom of movement 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
“The operations manager of RPC2 and RPC3 hereby approve all asylum seekers residing therein to be eligible to participate in open centre arrangements.”
Previously asylum seekers were permitted to leave the detention centre on “day release”, and were required to abide by strict curfews.
A number of asylum seekers on Nauru being held in the detention centre are pregnant, and the changes may affect those women who are being held in RPC3.
Repeated concerns have been raised over the conditions they are held in, with a risk assessment by Save the Children previously recommending the women not be moved there.
The statement from the government said new security arrangements would be put in place. Asylum seekers on day release have reported a number of sexual assaults outside the detention centre.
