Search results

Comments are made from two perspectives; the first from Catholic chaplains who regularly visit the Villawood detention centre in Sydney's outer Western suburbs. The second perspective is that of the broader professional perspective of Centacare staff who provide care and protection to children

Australia ratified its commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child in 1989. Australia has also committed itself to other human rights standards such as the Refugee Convention. In order to fulfil these obligations and on pure humanitarian grounds, it is imperative that children in detention are afforded these rights.

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 organisations and individuals who are interested in promoting the best interests of children.

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 countries.

Article 3(1) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that a child's best interests are to be a primary consideration in all actions concerning them. The Australian system, whereby the guardian of unaccompanied child asylum seekers is the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, rather than an authoritative, independent statutory body, does not ensure that the requirements of article 3(1) are met.