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5 February 2015Book page
10 Unaccompanied children in detention
10.1 Impact of detention on emotional and mental wellbeing 10.2 Self-harm by unaccompanied children 10.3 Pontville Detention Centre 10.4 Forcible transfer of children to Bravo Compound at Christmas Island 10.5 Guardianship and welfare 10.6 Findings specific to unaccompanied children I feel like I’m in jail, no one here to help us. It’s just me and God. (17 year old unaccompanied child,… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
9 July 2013WebpageChildren in immigration detention page
Learn how the majority of children in immigration detention arrived in Australia by boat and that many came with family members but some arrived alone. -
Education8 April 2022Webpage
What are Children's Rights?
Discover children’s rights and how they are protected internationally and in Australia. Explore resources and education initiatives at the Australian Human Rights Commission. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 April 2023Media ReleaseCommission welcomes banning of spit hoods by AFP
A decision by the Australian Federal Police to end the use of spit hoods has been welcomed by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Today the AFP announced the AFP and ACT police will no longer use spit hoods, and instead the AFP will provide ‘alternative equipment and implement procedures to better protect officers from spitting and biting.’ The decision follows a review initiated last… -
5 February 2015Book page
8 Primary school aged children in detention
8.1 Needs and development of children at this stage of life 8.2 Emotional health and wellbeing 8.3 The role of parents in detention 8.4 Physical environment of detention and resources 8.5 School education 8.6 Excursions out of detention 8.7 Findings specific to primary school aged children [They are] crying all day long ... tortured by sadness. Take the children out and keep us in. (Parent… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
31 January 2014Webpage
Information about children in immigration detention
Learn about the impact of mandatory immigration detention on children in regard to Australia's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. -
Children's Rights
19 April 2021Media ReleaseGovernments must prioritise raising the age
National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO have urged all Australian governments to raise the age of criminal responsibility as a matter of priority. A report commissioned by a meeting of Attorneys-General in July last year recommended that all jurisdictions raise the age and ensure younger teenagers… -
Rights and Freedoms
26 June 2020Publication
Implementing OPCAT in Australia (2020)
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) aims to improve how people’s human rights are protected when they are detained. -
5 February 2015Book page
12 Children in detention on Nauru
12.1 Accommodation 12.2 Facilities 12.3 Provision of clothing and footwear 12.4 Recreation and play 12.5 Education 12.6 Security measures 12.7 Policy guiding the transfer of children to Nauru 12.8 Impact of detention on children 12.9 Transfer of unaccompanied children 12.10 Child protection and allegations of abuse 12.11 Health services 12.12 Republic of Nauru Hospital 12.13 Mental health… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
26 July 2019Publication
Ms BK, Ms CO and Mr DE on behalf of themselves and their families v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs)
The Australian Human Rights Commission has conducted an inquiry into three complaints arising from the practice of the Australian Government of sending to Nauru families with young children who arrived in Australia seeking asylum. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
7 August 2014Opinion piece
Detention shame: children, mothers self-harming
By Gillian Triggs Posted 24 Jul 2014, 3:48pm Photo: A drawing by a child in the Christmas Island detention centre in 2014. (Supplied: Australian Human Rights Commission)Asylum seeker children and their families in detention on Christmas Island are plagued by despair and helplessness - and the situation is only deteriorating, writes Gillian Triggs. A team from the Australian Human Rights… -
Commission – General
18 February 2022Publication
Annual Report 2020-2021
This Annual Report sets out the performance of the Australian Human Rights Commission in the 2020–2021 financial year. -
14 December 2012Book page
A last resort? Detention policy and children
Learn how Australia's immigration detention laws create a detention system that is fundamentally at odds with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. -
14 December 2012Book page
14. Unaccompanied Children in Immigration Detention
Most children come to Australia with their parents, but some come alone, either sent by their family for their protection or because they have lost their family in a crisis. -
4 February 2015Book page
4 An overview of the children in detention
4.1 Nationalities of the children in detention 4.2 Reasons for seeking asylum 4.3 Age of children in detention 4.4 Unaccompanied children 4.5 When did the children arrive in Australia? 4.6 How long are children kept in detention? 4.7 Movement of children across the detention network 4.8 Mental health and wellbeing of children in detention 4.9 Detention is a dangerous place 4.10 Rates of self… -
Children's Rights
29 January 2015Publication
The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2014)
Foreword Australia currently holds about 800 children in mandatory closed immigration detention for indefinite periods, with no pathway to protection or settlement. This includes 186 children detained on Nauru. Children and their families have been held on the mainland and on Christmas Island for, on average, one year and two months. Over 167 babies have been born in detention within the… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Submissions to the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
1. BACKGROUND TO UNAA's CONCERN 2. THIS INQUIRY 3. AUSTRALIA'S INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS 4. MANDATORY DETENTION OF CHILDREN, and ALTERNATIVES 5. CHILD ASYLUM SEEKERS IN DETENTION AND THE COMMUNITY 6. IMPACT OF DETENTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN 7. MEASURES REQUIRED TO PROTECT INTERESTS OF CHILDREN 8. MEASURES FOR PROTECTING INTERESTS OF CHILD ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES 9… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
The United Nations Youth Association of Australia welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention. The issue of immigration detention for children has been coming under increased scrutiny in the past eight months. As far as it affects our international standing, the standards by which we treat children and… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Australia is a signatory to a number of International Conventions, which are relevant to mandatory detention of children in Australia’s immigration detention centres. Under International law, each of the conventions that Australia has ratified is binding on the Australian state, which is obliged to bring its domestic laws into conformity with their stipulations. In Australia, International…