Detention of children on Christmas Island must end
18 June 2009, 05:08PM
The ongoing detention of children and unaccompanied minors on Christmas Island is a betrayal of the government’s stated commitment to a more humane immigration policy, Amnesty International said today, ahead of World Refugee Day on Saturday 20 June.
The organisation has called on the government to immediately remove all children, minors and families from detention on Christmas Island and move them to more appropriate housing on Australia’s mainland.
Amnesty International understands that more than 80 children, including unaccompanied minors, are currently being housed in alternate detention arrangements on Christmas Island. While they are not being held in the Christmas Island Detention Centre itself, the organisation believes the detention arrangements in which children are kept are inappropriate for even the briefest period.
The organisation remains gravely concerned with the use of the ‘construction camp’ facility which currently holds 68 children (including 41 unaccompanied minors). The ‘construction camp’ consists mostly of metal, concrete and gravel, with small claustrophobic bedrooms. A further 18 unaccompanied minors are being housed in community detention.
“The children kept in alternate detention are guarded around the clock and are not free to leave the fenced perimeter of the facilities” said Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator for Amnesty International Australia.
“Amnesty International has visited the asylum seeker accommodation at Christmas Island, and it is clear to us that if children were detained under these conditions on the mainland there would be outrage in the Australian community”, said Graham Thom.
While the current government has invested significant resources in attempting to improve the conditions in which these children are housed, the remote, isolated location of Christmas Island makes the provision of adequate services close to impossible.
“Because of the remote location of the facility, these young people have limited access to legal, health and counselling services” said Graham Thom. “While the government has committed to no longer keeping children in detention centres, the restrictive conditions and lack of services have similar detrimental psychological impacts on children.”
Amnesty International believes that the Australian Government is in breach of its international obligations by treating asylum seekers on Christmas Island, including children, differently solely because they arrived by boat. The organisation acknowledges that significant positive steps have been made by the current government on asylum seeker policy, including the abolition of temporary protection visas. At the same time, Amnesty International firmly maintains that in order for Australia to meet its international obligations, Christmas Island should be closed down as an asylum processing facility. As a matter of priority, the government should immediately remove all children and families from the island and house them appropriately on the mainland.
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Comments
Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
Lúcia Nunes
28 June 2009, 05:35PM
The Australian Government is disappointing.Childrens e families in detention centres insinuate abuse the Human Rights what your imigration policy. Set a good example for World!
cory payne
23 June 2009, 11:36AM
This is just wrong kids should be aloud to do what they whant without having to be supervised.
Jill
20 June 2009, 11:07AM
These children have already suffered enough without our adding to their stress!
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