Australia’s youth detention system is in crisis. Children as young as 10 are being locked away and subjected to spit hoods, solitary confinement, police cages and adult watch houses.
These practices meet the UN definition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
No child in Australia should ever be subjected to torture.
In the lead up to the launch of our new Youth Justice campaign to 2030, we’re asking likeminded folk to collectively call for urgent change and share our petition calling on Australian Governments to raise the age of criminal responsibility and end the use of torturous practices on children in custody.
What’s inside this resource kit:
- Social Tiles
- Printable Posters
- Indigenous Youth Justice Conversation Guide
- Printable Petition
- Info about Amnesty’s current Indigenous Rights campaign
Social Tiles
Printable Posters
Conversation Guide and Printable Petition
How does collecting petition signatures contribute to the campaign?
Petitions work because collective voices force accountability. When thousands of us demand action together, governments listen. Change happens when we make inaction impossible to ignore.
Additionally, petitions help to create a base of supporters for the campaign, so that we can continue to engage with them and provide opportunities to take deeper actions that have even greater impact. Signing a petition could be the first step someone takes on their journey to becoming an activist. This is why the conversations you have can be so powerful.
About Amnesty’s current Indigenous Rights Campaign
Around Australia, children from the age of 10 can be incarcerated. Many of these children have a cognitive or neurological disability, and are exposed to really traumatic experiences and environments, as well as torturous practices such as dangerous spithoods, often while they are being held in remand – i.e. they haven’t been found guilty of a crime and are awaiting their trial.
Amnesty’s Indigenous Rights team will be launching our new Youth Justice Campaign Strategy 2026-2030 this year. Our focus states will be VIC, NT and QLD, where we will be campaigning to end the youth incarceration crisis that predominantly and disproportionately affects First Nations children, advocating for systemic and political reform.
What we are calling for:
- All State and Territory Governments must raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 14, in line with international standards.
- End the use of torturous practices in youth detention, including isolation, prolonged lockdowns, restraints and other inhumane and cruel treatment.
- Investment in First Nations-led justice reinvestment initiatives and culturally safe, community-driven solutions that strengthen families and keep children out of the justice system
- An end to the use of torturous practices such as spit hoods and detaining kids in adult watch houses.
- A national youth justice framework
Learn more:
5 common justice terms defined – Amnesty International Australia
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our human rights work.
