![A boat carrying asylum seekers sails in waters off Christmas Island in 2010. [Australian Customs]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201007/r595383_3837491.jpg "A boat carrying asylum seekers sails in waters off Christmas Island in 2010. [Australian Customs]")
PHOTO
A boat carrying asylum seekers sails in waters off Christmas Island in 2010. [Australian Customs]
Bridget Brennan
Last Updated:
Asylum seeker support groups are hoping a visit to Australia from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will highlight issues facing people in immigration detention.
Navi Pillay has begun her Australian visit in Darwin, where she toured detention facilities on Friday.
Media outlets have received a letter from six Burmese men who are detained in Darwin and are seeking Ms Pillay's attention.
The men say they have been granted refugee status but have been waiting for security clearances from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation for a year.
Asylum Seeker Support Network spokesman Carl O'Connor says he hopes Ms Pillay's visit will draw attention to mental health issues facing people who have been detained for too long.
"They should not be spending inordinate amounts of time in detention," he said.
In January, a UN human rights review recommended Australia end mandatory detention.
Navi Pillay has begun her Australian visit in Darwin, where she toured detention facilities on Friday.
Media outlets have received a letter from six Burmese men who are detained in Darwin and are seeking Ms Pillay's attention.
The men say they have been granted refugee status but have been waiting for security clearances from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation for a year.
Asylum Seeker Support Network spokesman Carl O'Connor says he hopes Ms Pillay's visit will draw attention to mental health issues facing people who have been detained for too long.
"They should not be spending inordinate amounts of time in detention," he said.
In January, a UN human rights review recommended Australia end mandatory detention.
0 comments