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Submission to National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention from
the National Council of Women of Australia
Refugee rights and the rights of the child
Health and Nutrition
Prevention,treatment and accommodation of disabilities
Psychological and social well being
Education
Conclusion
The National Council of Women of Australia is a voluntary organisation working for the advancement of women through a vast network of affiliated organisations & individual members.
The national council is comprised of state councils which have individual members and affiliated organisations. In total the membership comprises over three million women.
Refugee rights and the rights of the child:
It is paramount that the best interests of the child is considered. The child is entitled to nurture and protection within the family unit.
The council expresses concern at the suggestion that children are to be separated from parents and other family members and removed from the centres to be placed in foster care. Whilst this move would remove the child from the oppressive atmosphere of detention in a camp it would remove the child from the family unit and in most cases from the care of the mother.
Consideration should be given to containing the family unit. The child's right to play must also be acknowledged.
Long term research has established the essential roll of play in the child's physical, emotional and social development.Australia is a leader in research and development of opportunities for play. Throughout Australia in cities and country towns innovative parks and play areas have been developed for children.Play therapy programs are established in hospitals, special education centres, preschool, day-care centres and schools.
Children in detention centres have few play facilities.
Immediate attention is needed to aspects of play situations available to children in detention centres.Many children have experienced great trauma in the period of their short lives. The value of play and emotional expression through music and art is well known and yet it is apparent that such experiences are denied children in detention centres.
Health and Nutrition:
The council expresses concern at the level of nutrition advice to catering staff employed by the operators of detention centres.
Most children in detention centres have arrived in Australia from war torn areas of the world, where access to nutritious food is limited and at times non existence.Mothers during pregnancy have had limited access to nutritious food.
The establishment of nutritious patterns of food and drink consumption is essential to the development and growth of the child. It is a basic right of the child to have access to adequate and nutritious food appropriate to its culture and to a diet which will encourage growth and well being.
The council also questions access to health services and in particular child health examinations readily available to children in Australia. The value of regular health examinations is established as a preventative measure and an established practice in child health.Early testing of eye sight,hearing and for disabilities ensures that the child has access to the best possible care and attention. Refugee children in detention centres are unlikely to have had adequate health care in their home country due to the unavailability of services, medical staff and facilities. It is imperative that children in detention centres have access to adequate health care.
Prevention,treatment and accommodation of disabilities:
The physical environment of the detention centre must cater for children with disabilities including mobility, hearing, sight impairment.
Adequate health care by specialists in disability areas should be available.The remoteness of several detention centres hampers access to such care. Parents require support and advise.
The council has been unable to find factual information that establishes this care is available to children in detention centres.
Psychological and social well being:
The compounding problems developing from lack of acknowledgement of the psychological effects of trauma, life in war torn areas, transportation to Australia and detention in a prison like environment will result in further pain and suffering.
Whilst the council acknowledges that those in detention centres have entered the country illegally, the children are the victims of the actions of parents and other adults and cannot be held responsible for the actions of their parents. In many cases parents and family members have acted in the best interests of the child to remove them from situations of war and deprivation.
Australia now has a responsibility to ensure that these children have every consideration which will allow them to grow into healthy, happy teenagers and adults, worthwhile and contributing citizens of this country or their home country should they return to their home land.
It is reported that there are unaccompanied children in detention centres. Immediate efforts should be made to connect these children with family members either in Australia or in their home land and unite these children with family members capable of caring for the child.
Education:
The lives of these children have been already disrupted in ways most children fortunately will never experience. In most cases formal education has not been established in the pattern of their lives. The child's right to education that will equip the child for adulthood and a productive life style is an accepted and enforceable practice in Australia. Effective education within detention centres must be sensitive to cultural and language requirements and to the level of the child's development. Specialist educators will be required to provide the level of education required by the child detainees.
In conclusion:
The National Council of Women of Australia recognises the difficulties faced by the government coping with the influx of boat people and other illegal immigrants and that it has an obligation to those legitimate applicants for immigration to Australia.
The council also recognises that children are perhaps used a tools to gain attention and publicity by some illegal immigrants and those sponsoring illegal immigration. The sensational reporting by the Australian Press has fuelled this practice.
The council expresses deep concern that the problems of children in detention centres has not been fully addressed.
National Council of Women of Australia thanks the Human Rights Commissioner for conducting this enquiry and for the opportunity to express the council's concerns and will monitor the results of the enquiry.
This submission was prepared with the assistance of:
Judith A. Parker,
President 12/3/02
National Adviser for Immigration and the Coordinator for Social Issues
National
Council of Women of Australia
Ist Floor
6A Thesiger Court Deakin ACT 2600
Phone 02 6285 2337 fax 02 6285 2652
email: ncwa@bigpond.com
website: www.ncwa.org.au
