The announcement that 75 Sri Lankan men - who have been held at the remote offshore detention centre on Nauru since February - have been accepted as genuine refugees and will be resettled in Australia is great news.

These men fled persecution and human rights abuses in their homeland, they have been found to be refugees and they are entitled to our protection. We welcome the decision to grant these men refugee status and to bring them to Australia - it reaffirms the Australian Government's commitment to human rights principles.

Australia is a signatory to the international Refugee Convention and this decision shows the world that it is living up to its obligations.

The 75 men - 21 of who are reportedly arriving in Australia on 15 January - are among 83 Sri Lankans on Nauru waiting for asylum in Australia. The Sri Lankans are the only people still housed at the detention centre on Nauru.

Another six of the group have reportedly had rape charges against them dropped and are waiting to have their applications finalised. Another man's application was rejected and he is appealing against the decision, while the remaining Sri Lankan is in hospital in Perth, Australia.

These men should never have been taken to Nauru in the first place. The psychological damage caused to those detained for long periods of time on Nauru is well documented. It's important these men are given our protection and help to ensure they do not suffer any lasting damage.

We hope this move signals an end to Australia’s offshore processing of asylum seekers, and we hope it sends a signal to other governments that such practices are unacceptable and a breach of human rights principles.

Read our blog about their case.

For more information on our campaign about the human rights of refugees click here.