Indonesia's Death Penalty Or Australia's Asylum Policy?

Both countries have been condemned by the United Nations for breaching international conventions on human rights.

Following the state-sanctioned executions of two Australian citizens in Indonesia, Australia is being urged to step up its opposition to the death penalty.

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Indonesia carried out the executions of eight foreign nationals, despite global condemnation and in breach of its obligations as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

It states that the death penalty should only be imposed for "the most serious crimes, that is, those involving intentional killing, and only after a fair trial."

Australia is not exactly on the moral high ground when it comes to its own human rights record.

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Just this year, Australia has been accused of breaching the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for its refugee deal with Cambodia and for violating the UN Convention Against Torture with the indefinite detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island.

Australia has signed an international commitment to abolish the death penalty (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) but Australia's treatment of asylum seekers is also in breach of the ICCPR.

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Can you tell the difference between this criticism of Indonesia's death penalty and Australia's asylum policy?

Despite the criticism, both Indonesia and Australia believe their "cruel" policies are necessary because human lives are just casualties in a war.

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For Indonesia, it's the war on drugs and for Australia it's the war on people smugglers.

Both Indonesia and Australia have leaders who believe it's important to appear strong and for their policies to act as a deterrent, even if they break international law.