Amnesty calls to close detention centres and raise the age of criminal responsibility during National Child Protection Week.
Tag Archives: Youth detention
Banksia Hill report shocking, but not surprising
Responding to the latest damning report by the Inspector of Custodial Services into conditions at Perth’s Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre tabled in West Australian Parliament today, Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Advisor, Rodney Dillon, said: “The findings in this report should come as a surprise to no one – but they should shock anyone …
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Amnesty extremely concerned over potential human rights abuses with children being held in solitary confinement due to COVID
Responding to reports that children are being held in solitary confinement or moved to a Queensland watch house following a staff member testing positive for COVID-19, Amnesty International Australia campaigner, Joel Clark said: “Moving children, many of whom are on remand and haven’t been convicted of any crime, to adult watch houses is totally inappropriate …
NSW must learn from past failures – high-risk units don’t work
Responding to the announcement by the NSW Minister for Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward that the NSW Government will “strengthen security” in youth prisons in the wake of an incident at the Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre in July this year by introducing a high-risk units in that centre, and Cobham Youth Justice Centre, …
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Decline in numbers of kids in NT prisons welcome, time to raise the age
Responding to new data from the Northern Territory government showing a decline in the number of children in Northern Territory youth prisons, Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Manager Tammy Solonec said: “The trend towards fewer kids being locked up in the Territory is welcome, but there are still 363 children in prison, which is 363 …
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Good News: Queensland to better protect kids in the justice system
After thousands of human rights supporters spoke out, the Queensland Parliament has now reformed the Youth Justice Act to ensure that children spend as little time as possible in detention centres and harmful police watch houses. On 22 August Queensland’s Parliament debated and passed Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019. In passing the …
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Damning report: Premier Andrews must act on abuse in Victoria’s youth detention centres
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews must end the abuse of children and young people, including children being held in solitary confinement in cells with no toilets. The abuse was revealed this morning in a report by the Commission for Children and Young People into the use of isolation, separation and lock downs of children in Victoria’s …
UN increases scrutiny of Australia’s failing Indigenous rights record, ahead of Human Rights Council vote
Prime Minister Turnbull must demonstrate to the United Nations his commitment to Indigenous peoples’ rights, said Amnesty International, as the watchful eye of the UN falls on Australia’s dismal Indigenous rights record – just seven months before the vote on whether Australia secures a Human Rights Council seat. The UN Special Rapporteur on the …