6. Regulations prohibiting or regulating access by lawyers to information on security
grounds contravenes Principle 21 of the Basic Principles on Lawyers and should be
amended to ensure the provision of effective legal advice to detainees.
7. The ASIO Amendment Act, sections 34 G(3) and (6) require that a detainee answer all
questions asked of him or her in contravention of the right to silence and the rights not to
be compelled to testify against oneself or to confess guilt (Article 14(3)(g) of the ICCPR).
The legislation should be amended to ensure these rights are fully respected. It is also
vitally important that the burden of proving non-association with terrorist acts –currently
placed upon a detainee - be moved to ASIO or other investigating authority.
8. The application of the ASIO Amendment Act to minors between the ages of 16 and 18
years and the application of any State legislation, (such as the Terrorism (Police Powers)
Act 2002 (NSW)) that apply to children from the age of 10 years, are in contravention of
the ‘best interests of the child’ principle established in Article 3 of the CRC. The Act
should be amended accordingly.
9. The restrictions on the rights of a detained person under the ASIO Amendment Act
(section 34F(8)) to communicate with their family – rendering them “incommunicado” are in significant contravention of the Body of Principles on Detention and should be
amended.
10. Efforts should be made to ensure that the search and seizure provisions under the ASIO
Amendment Act are used reasonably with proper restraint ensuring they are employed
without racial or religious discrimination.
Fiji
The Advisory Council of Jurists observes and recommends that:
1. The power to derogate from the rights listed in the Bill of Rights when a state of
emergency is proclaimed should be interpreted so as to preserve the constitutional rights
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