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Governments must end youth detention abuse

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Content type: Media Release
Published:
Topic(s): Children, Juvenile justice, Prisoners

The Australian Human Rights Commission today expressed continuing and deep concern about the abuse of young people in detention.

“The focus on punitive measures is failing young people. A much better approach is to focus on effective early intervention, prevention and diversion programs,” said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar.

The National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, said Australia has around 900 children and young people in youth justice detention at any one time.

“This issue is clearly not restricted to one state or territory.

“Children and young people in youth justice detention are entitled to serve their time free from abuse.

"We must learn from the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory and from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to ensure that institutions embed a culture that safeguards children’s rights.

“Strong oversight of Australian detention centres is also vital to ensure that detention facilities are run transparently and in line with community standards,” Commissioner Mitchell said.

Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow said the Federal Government’s impending ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) is an important part of a national response to detention abuse.

“By ratifying OPCAT, the Australian Government is committing to establish a national, independent system for inspecting all Australian places of detention.

“A rigorous inspection system will increase transparency in places of detention.  That will enable us to identify breaches of human rights and prevent breaches from occurring in the first place, as well as learning from best practices around Australia.”

Media contacts: Dominic O’Grady for Commissioner Oscar and Commissioner Santow. 0419 258 597 E: dominic.ogrady@humanrights.gov.au
Georgia Flynn for Commissioner Mitchell: 0430 366 529 E:georgia.flynn@humanrights.gov.au