National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
1. Appointment
of Expert Assistant Commissioners
2. Release of Background papers
The National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention was announced by Human Rights Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski on 28 November 2001. Details about the Inquiry and terms of reference can be found on the Commission's website at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/children_detention/index.html
-
Appointment of Expert Assistant Commissioners
Two expert assistant commissioners have been appointed to assist the Inquiry.
Dr Robin Sullivan - Commissioner for Children and Young People, Queensland.
Dr Sullivan has been the Queensland Commissioner for Children and Young People since April 1999 after a distinguished career in the Queensland Department of Education. Trained as a teacher of History and English, she has held senior positions in schools and in the administrative hierarchy of the Queensland Education system. She became Deputy Director-General of Education in Queensland in 1997 and contributes to a range of children's issues and policy agendas at the State and national levels.
Professor Trang Thomas - Professor of Psychology at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Prof Thomas has a PhD in Psychology and is Director of Science at the Australian Psychological Society. She has conducted numerous research projects in Developmental Psychology and produced more than 100 research papers, keynote addresses and conference presentations. In 1996, she chaired a major inquiry into the adequacy of government services in Victoria for non-English speaking people.
Prof Thomas and Dr Sullivan will assist the Inquiry in providing advice in their respective fields of expertise and will assist with public hearings.
Click here for further background details about the assistant commissioners.
They will not be available for interviews.
-
Release of Background Papers
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has compiled eight Background Papers to assist organisations and individuals wishing to make submissions to the Inquiry.
These papers are now available on the Commission's website. The Background Papers, covering a range of children's rights, are as follows:
1. Introduction (overview of international standards, including articles 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 22 and 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child)
2. Culture and Identity
3. Mental Health and Development (including survivors of torture and trauma, child abuse and neglect, play and recreation)
4. Health and Nutrition
5. Prevention, Treatment and Accommodation of Disabilities
6. Education (including preschool, primary, secondary and vocational education)
7. Legal Status (including refugee status determination, guardianship of unaccompanied children)
8. Deprivation of Liberty and Humane Detention (including mandatory detention, detention of children 'as a last resort', conditions).
The Background Papers outline international standards as they relate to children in immigration detention, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child and guidelines of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on refugee and asylum seeking children. The papers raise issues and questions for further inquiry, including relevant standards and practice in Australia.
Media Inquiries:
Janine MacDonald (02) 9284 9880 or 0408 469 347
