[Greens-Media] Keeping children in detention is creating a damaged generation

[Schultz-Byard, Noah (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Keeping children in detention is creating a damaged generation

Today's distressing revelation that unaccompanied children are self-harming and attempting suicide in Australian detention centres shows just how important it is for them to be placed into the community, the Australian Greens have said.

"These children need to be protected, not locked up in detention centres" the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"The Minister is fundamentally failing as the legal guardian of these children and an independent guardian, who will actually care for them, needs to be established.

"The mental stress that these children are suffering is so damaging that many of them are being driven to harm themselves and even attempt suicide. How much more damage to these young people is the government prepared stand by and watch?

"Children don't belong in detention centres and the government should move them into the community immediately.

"The Greens care about unaccompanied children and have a bill before the Senate that would finally take guardianship away from the Minister, their jailer, and give it to an independent advocate.

"The argument that treating children with care will encourage more children to come by boat is false. There are more children in detention now than ever before, the government's cruelty is only causing more harm and it's not saving anyone's life."


Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760


NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  MEDIA ADVISER

OFFICE OF SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG
AUSTRALIAN GREENS SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
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