[Greens-Media] UN slams Australia's cruelty to refugee children

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

MEDIA RELEASE



Saturday, 29 November 2014



UN slams Australia's cruelty to refugee children



The United Nations Committee Against Torture's severe critique of Australia's abuse of refugee children should be a wake-up call for the Abbott government, the Australian Greens have said.



"The UN has been unequivocal in its condemnation of Australia's cruel treatment of refugee children," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"We must change our ways, as a nation, or become an international outcast that will be remembered for destroying a generation of vulnerable young refugees.

"Scott Morrison has hundreds of children needlessly locked up in detention right now. He's using these kids' suffering as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Senate crossbench, trying to bully them into accepting his latest effort in a frantic grab for power.



"His actions are destroying children and are illegal, under international law.



"The UN also slammed Australia's offshore detention camps on Manus Island and Nauru. It's time these torturous camps of cruelty were closed, once and for all.

"Condemnation by the United Nations cannot be ignored, especially when it is this serious, and I call on the Immigration Minister to respond by releasing all children immediately."





Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760


NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER

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