The former Howard Government in Australia has been strongly criticised by a United Nations body for its operation of off shore detention camps for asylum seekers.
The regional representative of the UN High Commission for Refugees, Richard Towle, has welcomed the end of the so-called Pacific Solution which will come to a close tomorrow with the departure of the last remaining 21 refugees from Nauru to Australia.
He says their departure signals the close of a difficult chapter in Australia's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.
Mr Towle says many bona fide refugees were caught by the policy resulting in long periods of isolation, mental hardship and uncertainty.
He says the new Government's decision to end the practice and take the refugees to Australia goes a long way to show Australia as a humane society and one that is meeting its international obligations.
