Detention centres no place for children - AMA

AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said the AMA is very concerned about the health of refugees, especially the children, inside detention centres and in the community.

"We have been lobbying the Government to take a more compassionate approach to this issue over the past two years with little success," Dr Glasson said.

The Family Court yesterday indicated that detaining children under Australian Immigration laws was probably unlawful, and that detention breached its obligations under UN conventions.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that signatories should:

• recognise the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health

• strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services

• recognise the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development, and

• ensure that no child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily.

"It is shameful that the Australian Government continues with a hardline approach that prolongs the suffering of the 108 children in detention in Australia," Dr Glasson said.

"There is compelling evidence that when children are incarcerated in detention centres their health deteriorates. This can be in the form of depression, stress, eating disorders that can lead to malnutrition, and general poor physical health.

"Rapid processing of detainees is essential and achievable.

"Children should not be detained at all. They should be cared for in the community while their applications are processed," Dr Glasson said.

CONTACT: Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306