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This submission has been prepared following a public seminar held on 4 March 2002 to discuss the experiences of children in Immigration Detention Centres in Australia. The seminar, held at the University of Western Sydney (Macarthur - Bankstown), was convened by Childhood and Youth Policy Research Unit of the Social Justice and Social Change Research Centre, University of Western Sydney in…

In accordance with its supervisory responsibilities and Article 35 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) on its national inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention.

The Commissioner will inquire into the adequacy and appropriateness of Australia's treatment of child asylum seekers and other children who are, or have been, held in immigration detention, including:

The Tasmanian Government recognises the Federal Government's responsibilities for the management of immigration to Australia. During the last decade a policy of mandatory detention has been established for those who enter Australia without proper authority (an appropriate visa). A period of detention allows the Commonwealth Government to ensure that those unauthorised arrivals do not have a…

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) is pleased to respond to your invitation of 21 December to make a submission to the HREOC inquiry into children in immigration detention. The NCEC is the official body appointed by and responsible to the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference for developing, enunciating and acting upon policy at the national level for the Church's work in…

The University of Western Sydney, Bankstown Campus is located approximately twenty minutes from Villawood Detention Centre. Within the School of Education and Early Childhood Studies there is a strong commitment to social justice and to the celebration of diversity. The undergraduate early childhood program developed by academics at the university promotes awareness of the rights of children and…

The Australian Association for the Welfare of Child Health (AWCH) is a national organisation of parents and professionals which advocates for and raises awareness of the psychosocial needs of children, young people and their families within the health care system in Australia. AWCH advocates a holistic family-oriented approach to the care of children and young people, acknowledging the vital role…

It must also be recognised that many children in detention centres have been deeply damaged - further trauma could be avoided, in part, by prudent selection and training of staff and guards. It needs to be assured that only staff who have learned to respect relevant cultures, religious traditions and are knowledgeable of the human rights of asylum seekers and the often traumatic conditions of…

The Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia is the national peak body representing non-government organisations working with children and young people experiencing abuse and neglect and their families. The Association represents more than 80 organisations across Australia engaged in child and family welfare service provision, including each State and Territory peak child welfare…

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation whose mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of forcibly displaced people. It has a staff of over 600 full time personnel and is at work in over 60 countries. At the present time JRS has active programmes of social support and legal counselling in prisons and detention centres for asylum seekers in about 20…

The Social Justice In Early Childhood Group (SJIECG) was formed in 1996 and is made up of early childhood professionals focussed on social justice issues as they relate to children and their families. The group aims to raise the awareness of social justice issues within the early childhood profession. The group membership includes teachers, students, childrens services managers, additional needs…

The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) is the peak body in Australia for people from a non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers.

The Australian Early Childhood Association (AECA) is a national non-government, non-profit advocacy organisation that speaks out on behalf of all young children from birth to eight years. It stands as the voice for children and aims to ensure that the best interests of children are always at the forefront of decision making. Members include childcare services, schools, peak early childhood…

Staff in the Social Policy and Advocacy Research Centre, and the Youth Studies Flagship at the Australian Catholic University welcome the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's initiative in establishing an inquiry into children in Australia's immigration detention centres.

The QTU beleives that refugee detention centres should be immediately closed down and replaced with the placement of all refugees in appropriate communities."

The current mandatory detention policy of the Commonwealth of Australia breaches the fundamental principle of the rights of the child which is that children should be able to develop to their full potential. The policy breaches every article of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The policy violates the right to health as established by international law.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) public statement on Immigration Detention at Villawood.