Aust PR company snubs international law in response to refugee abuse

Commenting on Mercer PR’s response to an OECD complaint in relation to their activity on Nauru Adj. Professor George Newhouse, Managing Director of the National Justice Project said: “Mercer PR have demonstrated their disregard for international human rights law in their response to an OECD complaint in relation to their activity on Nauru. Their arrogant comments prove they have learned nothing

“It’s no consolation to the victims of human rights violations for the perpetrator to be a small business and not  multinational company. No institution or company should be able to violate human rights with impunity.

Dhakshayini Sooriyakumaran, Director of Human Rights at the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) said: “The  Australian National Contact Point’s Final Statement on the OECD complaint against Mercer PR is an important part of a process that holds corporations to account for irresponsible business conduct in accordance with internationally recognised standards.

“The OECD Guidelines’ grievance mechanism is the only government-backed international instrument on responsible business conduct which all signatory countries are required to uphold and take seriously.

“The NCP’s finding is a step in the right direction, and should serve as a warning to all companies doing business with Australia’s immigration detention and deterrence regime that the risk of participation in human rights abuses is high.

CONTACT George Newhouse | +61 2 9304 0373 | georgen@justice.org.au Dhakshayini Sooriyakumaran | +61 475 458 201 | dhakshayini@accr.org.au