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Unicef Australia wants independent body to protect children in detention Unicef Australia wants independent body to protect children in detention
(about 1 hour later)
Unicef Australia has marked international refugee week with a call for an independent body to monitor and report on the treatment of children held in immigration detention by the Australian government.Unicef Australia has marked international refugee week with a call for an independent body to monitor and report on the treatment of children held in immigration detention by the Australian government.
The call follows a series of revelations published by Guardian Australia about the conditions for children detained offshore on Nauru and an ongoing Australian Human Rights Commission inquiry into children in detention.The call follows a series of revelations published by Guardian Australia about the conditions for children detained offshore on Nauru and an ongoing Australian Human Rights Commission inquiry into children in detention.
“We frequently hear of allegations of mistreatment, abuse and a failure to provide adequate services where there are very vulnerable children,” Unicef Australia chief executive officer Norman Gillespie said.“We frequently hear of allegations of mistreatment, abuse and a failure to provide adequate services where there are very vulnerable children,” Unicef Australia chief executive officer Norman Gillespie said.
“A substantial amount of tax dollars are spent on offshore detention. We need monitoring to create transparency around that expenditure and to be assured detention is not causing life-long harm to children.”“A substantial amount of tax dollars are spent on offshore detention. We need monitoring to create transparency around that expenditure and to be assured detention is not causing life-long harm to children.”
Gillespie personally wrote to the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, arguing that the independent body should monitor children’s access to basic services, their living conditions, their physical and mental health as well as report on any abuse they suffer in detention.Gillespie personally wrote to the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, arguing that the independent body should monitor children’s access to basic services, their living conditions, their physical and mental health as well as report on any abuse they suffer in detention.
Plan International, another global child rights NGO, supported Unicef’s request. “We are seriously concerned about the children being held in detention in places like Nauru and the lack of transparency on their situation, their living conditions and their treatment,” Plan International Australia’s CEO, Ian Wishart, said.
Wishart said that it was “not enough” to allow “selected agencies” infrequent visits to the offshore detention centre on Nauru
“One-off visits are not adequate to ensure that the hundreds of children now being held in detention are being properly looked after,” Wishart said.
In April the inquiry into children in detention heard that some children detained on Christmas Island for up to nine months had only received two weeks of schooling.In April the inquiry into children in detention heard that some children detained on Christmas Island for up to nine months had only received two weeks of schooling.
In May a confidential report, written by five independent experts, which documented widespread medical failings for children detained offshore on Nauru, was published by Guardian Australia. It said children were not adequately screened for communicable disease and estimated that up to 50% were suffering from undiagnosed latent tuberculosis.In May a confidential report, written by five independent experts, which documented widespread medical failings for children detained offshore on Nauru, was published by Guardian Australia. It said children were not adequately screened for communicable disease and estimated that up to 50% were suffering from undiagnosed latent tuberculosis.
The report also raised substantial concerns about child protection, stating there was no clear framework to protect children in the centre and that local employees were not adequately screened for their ability to work with children. But the experts who produced the report had no power to implement its recommendations.The report also raised substantial concerns about child protection, stating there was no clear framework to protect children in the centre and that local employees were not adequately screened for their ability to work with children. But the experts who produced the report had no power to implement its recommendations.
Guardian Australia revealed evidence in June that an asylum seeker boy had been sexually assaulted by a local detention centre staff member last November.Guardian Australia revealed evidence in June that an asylum seeker boy had been sexually assaulted by a local detention centre staff member last November.
“Last month’s leaked report into conditions in Nauru ought to be a wake-up call for the government,” said Wishart.
At present there is no independent body monitoring the wellbeing of children in detention and the Coalition government disbanded the independent health advisory group, tasked with monitoring the health of asylum seekers in detention, in December.At present there is no independent body monitoring the wellbeing of children in detention and the Coalition government disbanded the independent health advisory group, tasked with monitoring the health of asylum seekers in detention, in December.