Latest detention statistics are the most alarming we have ever seen - today 1632 children are locked up.

People detained on Manus Island and Nauru are so 'out of sight, out of mind' they don't even appear in DIAC statistics, here's more on the children detained on Manus Is.


2013 or 2001?

Here's a re-cap of asylum policy announcements, treatment of children in detention and a call for your help. There have been so many changes and it seems the pre-September race-to-the-bottom is well and truly underway. On 16 May 2013 the Senate passed legislation considered too extreme in the Howard years, Australia has now been excised for those who arrive by boat, read more.  Then on 3 June the government announced a 50% reduction in the budget available for the care of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum and those found to be refugees. 

Australia is the only Refugee Convention signatory nation to have a policy of indefinite detention for asylum seekers, no matter what their age. 

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CHILOUT IS:

  • Opposed to the indefinite, mandatory detention of children.
  • Opposed to the use of remote locations of detention for families and children for any length of time.
  • In favour of an independent guardian for unaccompanied children seeking asylum in Australia. The Minister with the power to detain children cannot also be the person appointed to act in their best interest.
  • Going to continue to operate until there is federal legislation to ensure no child is detained in an Australian immigration detention centre (or any such renamed facility) for more than 14 days.

WE ARE:

A not-for-profit community group who seek to increase public awareness by providing accurate information showing what is happening to children inside Australia's immigration detention facilities. We hold to account those responsible for the gap between what policy promises and delivers.

ChilOut is supported by John Connolly & Partners. 

GALLERY: