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1. Save the Children Save the Children is the world's largest independent child development organisation, with 32 member countries and programs in over 100 countries. Save the Children works for:

For further information contact: Damian Griffis Senior Policy Officer - Systemic Advocacy People with Disabilities (NSW) Inc PO Box 666 STRAWBERRY HILLS NSW 2012 Telephone: (02) 9319 6622 Facsimile: (02) 9318 1372 Email: damiang@pwd.org.au

Click on the links below to access submissions relating to specific issues raised by the Inquiry and submissions from individuals/ organisations attending public hearings.

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.

1. The provisions made by Australia to implement its international human rights obligations regarding child asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors.

Artwork Submitted to the Inquiry The following poems and drawings were submitted to the inquiry. Click on the images below to view larger versions. 1. Drawings provided by a child who has been in detention at Port Hedland IRPC for 22 months. 2. Two poems and a drawing provided by the mother of a child at Woomera IRPC Click here to read: Just for Australian Kind People (1) and Just for Australian ...

4. The Impact of Detention on the well being of children and additional measures and safeguards required in detention facilities (Terms of Reference 4 & 5)

This submission draws substantially on research papers by Eileen Pittaway and Linda Bartolomei which are currently pending publication. The content of this submission may not be reproduced or quoted without the written permission of these authors.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that around half of the 50 million displaced persons in the world are children. Around 10 million of these children are under the care of UNHCR. Approximately 100,000 separated children roam Western Europe.(1) During 1999 alone, more than 20,000 separated children applied for asylum in Western Europe, North America or Australia.(2) Of those 20,000 unaccompanied children, 46 travelled to Australia to seek asylum. In the same year a further 202 children sought asylum in Australia with their families.(3)

Two Assistant Commissioners have been appointed to assist the Inquiry. Prof Thomas and Dr Sullivan will assist the Inquiry in providing advice in their respective fields of expertise and will assist with public hearings.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) requires Australia to protect children's rights to cultural identity, language and religion. The most effective way of ensuring enjoyment of these rights is to encourage and allow refugee and asylum-seeking children to participate in cultural and religious activities in the community. The Australian community is well equipped to respond to this need as a wide range of cultural and religious opportunities are readily accessible and this remains a key factor in the maintenance of our multicultural society.

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.

1 To promote public support, both within Australia and internationally, for the improvement in the well-being and status of women and the development of reproductive health in families and individuals by means including-

Catholic Welfare Australia is a Commission of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference and is the peak body that represents the social welfare apostolate of the Catholic Church in Australia at a national level. It is a national federation of Catholic social service organisations that operate in local communities. Membership of Catholic Welfare Australia is drawn from the Catholic social welfare organisations operating under the authority of a diocesan bishop or a religious order and from Catholic lay associations.

This Office issued a formal report on Immigration Detention Centres in March 2001 which contained a number of recommendations to DIMIA for improvements in arrangements for children. The investigation was conducted following complaints and a number of reported incidents including escapes and allegations of assault on detainees. It revealed evidence at every immigration detention facility of self-harm, damage to property, fights and assaults which suggested that there were systemic deficiencies in the management of detainees, including women and children.