‘For God's sake, stop damaging detainee kids and set them free’
Report
finds treatment of children “cruel, inhuman and degrading”
The
Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace (CCJDP) called on the
Federal Government to release 153 detainee children and their parents
immediately. The CCJDP’s call comes as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission released the report of its inquiry into children in detention,
finding treatment of children “cruel, inhuman and degrading”.
The
CCJDP disputed the Government’s earlier claims that the plight of detainee
children was in the past or that there were only seven children left in
detention. Recent figures show that 153 children in Australia and Nauru are
denied their freedom. The CCJDP expressed particular concern about the plight of
a 13-year-old Iranian boy who is suicidal and has been the subject of twenty
child protection notifications recommending his removal from detention. He is
still being held in Baxter Immigration Detention Centre.
The
Commission’s Executive Officer, Marc Purcell said: “It is wrong for
Australia to lock up children. For God’s sake, stop damaging detainee kids’
lives. We call on the Government to give the children and their parents freedom
immediately.”
“The
Human Rights Commission found that a prison culture prevails in detention and is
very unsafe and damaging to children. All the experts agree that the mental
health of children suffers when they are locked up,” he said.
“The
tragedy is that it need not be so. The Immigration Minister and the Department
of Immigration have always had the powers to remove children and their parents
from high security detention. Former Minister Ruddock failed to act in the best
interests of children and the current Minister, Amanda Vanstone, is not acting
quickly enough, ” he said.
“A
Better Way is possible. Welfare agencies are ready to work to assist the
Government in caring for children and their parents, ” he said.
NUMBERS OF CHILDREN IN DETENTION 5/5/04 Source:www.chilout.org
| Nauru offshore detention centre | 70 children |
| Villawood detention centre | 36 children |
| Port Augusta housing project* | 18 children *Women and children’s detention centre. |
| Christmas Island detention centre | 16 children |
| Baxter detention centre | 11 children |
| Maribyrnong detention centre | 2 children |
| Port Hedland detention centre | 0 children |
| Perth detention centre | 0 children |
| Other (foster care, motel, hospital etc.) | up to 98 children |
| Total: | At least 153 children in formal detention |
Note:
housing project, motel and hospital detainees are under 24hr guard and have no
freedom of movement.
Full details of the welfare agencies costed policy alternatives to detention can
be viewed at: http://www.melbourne.catholic.org.au/ccjdp/pdf/ImprovingOutcomesandReducingCostsforAsylumSeekers.pdf