UN calls for urgent care for pregnant Somali asylum seeker Abyan

The United Nations has called on Australia to provide urgent medical care for a pregnant refugee who was allegedly raped.

The woman known as Abyan was flown back to Nauru from Australia without a termination.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has contacted Abyan, who they say is in a “very fragile” mental state and “deeply traumatised” following the alleged assault on Nauru, where Australia operates an offshore detention centre.

“She has refused to give information to the Nauru police about her attacker because she is understandably afraid of reprisals,” said Rupert Colville, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“She does not feel safe, given that her alleged attacker lives on Nauru, which is a very small island State with a population of around 10,000.”

Mr Colville said the chance of repeat offences would only increase if such cases like this went unaddressed.

“It is a matter of particular concern that asylum-seeker and refugee women who have allegedly been raped or sexually assaulted are left in unsafe conditions, given their own vulnerable status and the close proximity of their attackers, and tend to be stigmatized by the population and by members of the Nauru police force. Women are also less likely to speak out if they fear reprisals and see little-to-no chance of justice being done.”

The agency is concerned about a trend of sexual assaults on Nauru and issued a statement calling on Australian and Nauru to urgently provide care and enable a termination for the pregnant woman should she desire it.

SBS