Suffering to Save Lives: Torture, Cruelty, and Moral Disengagement in Australia’s Offshore Detention Centres

Abstract Since Australia re-established offshore processing on Manus Island and Nauru in 2012, there have been ongoing reports that asylum seekers refugees are being subjected to torture cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment punishment (CIDT). People detention endured indefinite detention, inadequate provision of health care, sexual, physical, mental harm as the government attempts ‘stop boats’ prevent deaths at sea. How can continue violate UN Convention against Torture Other Cruel, Inhuman Degrading Treatment Punishment, while same time, promote its policies worldwide? This article explores how has engaged moral disengagement from pain suffering people detention. Examining self-deception strategies such denial torture, responsibility, wrongdoing, it shows not only privileged migration deterrence goals over human rights considerations, but utilized legal humanitarian arguments evade accountability deny existence of, responsibility wrongdoing for, CIDT. under-examined issue show is exacerbating vulnerability CIDT along their journeys.