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The Nauruan government says a ban on websites such as Facebook protects its citizens from "abuse, harassment and bullying" as the United Nations urges the island's controversial regime to lift its game on freedom of expression and human rights.
Nauru launched the defence at a hearing in Geneva on Tuesday night, where the island's human rights record, including the plight of refugees and asylum seekers turned away from Australia, came under the international microscope.
UN member countries urged Nauru to lift restrictions on access to the internet, as well as immediately improve the living conditions of asylum seekers and refugees, enact domestic violence laws, decriminalise homosexuality and let more journalists into the country.
Access to Facebook was reportedly barred in May this year and apps such as Skype and Viber are also understood to be blocked. Detractors say the move is designed to prevent criticism and free speech, and stop refugees and asylum seekers from communicating their plight to the outside world.
In a statement to the UN, a six-member Nauru delegation headed by Justice Minister David Adeang said some internet sites were restricted this year "in efforts to protect citizens from abuse, harassment and bullying". The Nauruan government has previously claimed the ban was an attempt to crackdown on pornography.
The UN urged Nauru to adopt a series of recommendations, including lifting internet restrictions, reducing the $8000 non-refundable visa fee for foreign journalists and allowing more media into the country.
It said limited access by foreign journalists to the detention centre has strongly affected "international scrutiny of key human rights issues".
The UN has previously said all Nauruan media is state-owned and access to information is limited. In 2013 the government tried to ban its own media from reporting on politics two weeks before national elections, and in May this year three MPs were suspended from parliament after making critical remarks about the government to foreign media.
The nation should release all children from immigration detention centres and "take immediate measures to improve the physical conditions and security situation in detention and processing centres for asylum centres", the UN recommended.
Nauru argues that its recent open centre arrangements mean detainees are free to leave the facility and travel around the island. But many asylum seekers and refugees say public transport is poor, there are few places on the island they wish to visit and they must return to the centre for meals and a place to sleep.
The UN said Nauru should also decriminalise same-sex relations between consenting adults, ensure an independent judiciary and implement domestic violence laws and a child protection framework.
The Nauruan government and its Australian public relations agency, Mercer PR, did not respond to requests for comment.
The government told the hearing that the creation of a dedicated "human rights desk" in the Department of Justice and Border Control showed its commitment to human rights obligations and the Australian government would be supporting Nauru with safety, security and law enforcement.
It saide a new criminal code helped address violence against women, the number of Supreme Court judges had risen from one to three and the government was consulting on a new leadership bill to improve transparency and governance.
