This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/03/children-in-detention-inquiry-launched-by-human-rights-commission

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Children in detention inquiry launched by Human Rights Commission Children in detention inquiry launched by Human Rights Commission
(7 months later)
An inquiry into the treatment of children held in immigration detention has been launched by Australia’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) for the second time in a decade.An inquiry into the treatment of children held in immigration detention has been launched by Australia’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) for the second time in a decade.
The inquiry will look into the impact of closed detention on the health and development of children, according to the terms of reference which were released by the commission on Monday morning.The inquiry will look into the impact of closed detention on the health and development of children, according to the terms of reference which were released by the commission on Monday morning.
“The inquiry will assess the impact on children by seeking the views of people who were previously detained as children in closed immigration detention and by assessing the current circumstances and responses of children to immigration detention,” the commission said.“The inquiry will assess the impact on children by seeking the views of people who were previously detained as children in closed immigration detention and by assessing the current circumstances and responses of children to immigration detention,” the commission said.
The separation of families as well as the provision of education, recreation, maternal and infant health services will also be investigated.The separation of families as well as the provision of education, recreation, maternal and infant health services will also be investigated.
The terms of reference also cover:The terms of reference also cover:
• the appropriateness of facilities in which children are detained;• the appropriateness of facilities in which children are detained;
• the impact of the length of detention on children;• the impact of the length of detention on children;
• measures to ensure the safety of children;• measures to ensure the safety of children;
• the guardianship of unaccompanied children in detention in Australia;• the guardianship of unaccompanied children in detention in Australia;
• assessments conducted prior to transferring children to be detained in ‘regional processing countries’;• assessments conducted prior to transferring children to be detained in ‘regional processing countries’;
• progress that has been made during the 10 years since the commission’s 2004 report.• progress that has been made during the 10 years since the commission’s 2004 report.
The commission said its president, Gillian Triggs, will assess whether laws, policies and practices relating to children in immigration detention meet Australia’s international human rights obligations.The commission said its president, Gillian Triggs, will assess whether laws, policies and practices relating to children in immigration detention meet Australia’s international human rights obligations.
Immigration minister Scott Morrison said the commission only made inquiries into children in detention when the Coalition was in government, and it was the “failures” of the previous government that had put children in detention.Immigration minister Scott Morrison said the commission only made inquiries into children in detention when the Coalition was in government, and it was the “failures” of the previous government that had put children in detention.
"There's some suggestion my department hasn't been engaging with the commission. I don't accept that," he told 2GB radio on Monday."There's some suggestion my department hasn't been engaging with the commission. I don't accept that," he told 2GB radio on Monday.
Under the inquiry, ‘children’ will be defined as anyone under the age of 18, and community detention is not included in the scope.Under the inquiry, ‘children’ will be defined as anyone under the age of 18, and community detention is not included in the scope.
In the statement launching the inquiry, the HRC said: “We are talking about children living behind the wire and steel fences of closed detention facilities in our own country. Day-in, day-out, these children live with boredom and isolation. They have no freedom of movement. They are not free to visit the local park or playground. They can’t go to the beach for a swim. They can’t visit a museum or library. They can’t go to the movies. Even worse, on top of all this, many of them have limited access to education.”In the statement launching the inquiry, the HRC said: “We are talking about children living behind the wire and steel fences of closed detention facilities in our own country. Day-in, day-out, these children live with boredom and isolation. They have no freedom of movement. They are not free to visit the local park or playground. They can’t go to the beach for a swim. They can’t visit a museum or library. They can’t go to the movies. Even worse, on top of all this, many of them have limited access to education.”
The commission’s 2004 report, A last resort? National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention was based on data collected in 2002 and found in one case a child was held in detention for more than five years before being released into the community as a refugee. The commission’s 2004 report, A last resort? National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention was based on data collected in 2002 and found in one case a child was held in detention for more than five years before being released into the community as a refugee.
“Australians don't need a team of experts or dramatic media stories to convince them that detention centres are no place for children to grow up,” the report said at the time.“Australians don't need a team of experts or dramatic media stories to convince them that detention centres are no place for children to grow up,” the report said at the time.
It continued: “However, this inquiry analysed evidence from an enormous number of sources in order to objectively assess whether this gut reaction was right. The answer is conclusive: even the best-run detention centre is no summer school or holiday resort. In fact, they are traumatising places which subject children to enormous mental distress. This confirms the need to ensure that children should only be locked up in this environment as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.”It continued: “However, this inquiry analysed evidence from an enormous number of sources in order to objectively assess whether this gut reaction was right. The answer is conclusive: even the best-run detention centre is no summer school or holiday resort. In fact, they are traumatising places which subject children to enormous mental distress. This confirms the need to ensure that children should only be locked up in this environment as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.”