Nauru: A Nation Plagued by Weak Governance, Corruption, and Vulnerability to Foreign Influence

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Despite being ravaged by corruption, Nauru’s government has taken steps to silence its political opponents. However, the people still enjoy certain political rights and civil liberties. Transparency and accountability are severely impaired by the state’s control over media outlets, allowing instances of corruption and abuse of power to go unchecked.

Lack of Transparency and Accountability

• The lack of a law on access to public information perpetuates a culture of secrecy.
• Income and asset disclosure laws for elected officials are non-existent.
• The government has been criticized for restricting international media work and banning certain companies.

Human Rights Concerns

Nauru’s history of cooperation with regional and international organizations is marred by its failure to ratify core human rights instruments. The country’s criminal justice system is heavily reliant on international assistance, particularly from Australia, which has raised concerns over human rights abuses due to the presence of a Regional Processing Centre for asylum seekers.

Regional Processing Centre

The facility has been plagued by corruption and reports of gross human rights violations, including:

• Inadequate housing
• Denial of healthcare
• High rates of self-harm among residents

Judicial System

Nauru’s judicial system is plagued by weaknesses, including:

• Judges appointed by the president serving until age 65.
• No specific units dealing with organized crime.
• Sub-standard quality of the judicial and detention systems globally.

Law Enforcement and Defense

The country’s law enforcement agencies heavily rely on international assistance from Australia and New Zealand to investigate major crimes. The police force maintains internal security, but the country lacks a military force, relying on informal agreements with Australia for defense.

Economic Environment

Nauru’s economic environment is equally dire, characterized by:

• A narrow base
• Lack of financial flows
• Unattractive for investment

The government has been accused of money laundering practices and other offenses. The country’s vulnerability to criminal activity is exacerbated by its isolated location and small area.

Civil Society Organizations

Civil society organizations are few and far between, with no specific groups focused on organized crime or victim support. Refugees living in the Regional Processing Centre face miserable conditions and are vulnerable to mistreatment.

Conclusion

The government has not implemented any strategies to prevent organized crime, citing the lack of evidence of this threat in the country. Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution but often disregarded in practice, with foreign journalists facing difficulties operating in Nauru due to government-imposed restrictions.

Disclosure

This article was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.