Children Do Not Belong in Detention
Regardless of the conditions in which children are held, studies have shown that detention has a profound and negative impact on their health and development. Even very short periods of detention can undermine a child’s psychological and physical well-being and compromise their cognitive development.
A scoping review undertaken by Dr. Sarah Mares, Child and Family Psychiatrist, found:
“Multiple negative consequences of immigration detention for children and families. Restrictive detention is a particularly harmful reception experience for child asylum seekers who have already faced cumulative adversity during displacement and flight. Parenting is undermined directly in the detention environment and by parental mental illness, and there are few protective factors. All studies found elevated rates of mental disorder in detained children after even short periods, and the duration of detention appears to be associated with more children becoming symptomatic and unwell. Immigration detention is associated with multiple human rights violations and compromised access to health care.”
Some of the key impacts and areas of concerns for children in detention include
Poor mental health and self-harm
Extremely high rates of depression among children in detention, unaddressed trauma exacerbated by detention, and mental health disorders requiring psychiatric treatment.
Inadequate education
Inconsistent access to education, harassment and assault in certain schools, poor standards of education, lack of school supplies, high rates of teacher absenteeism, and low levels of student attendance.
Physical and sexual abuse
Investigations commissioned by the Government and the Senate revealed more than 60 incidents of child abuse at the Nauru Detention Centre, including 30 reported incidents of child abuse by centre staff.
Dehumanisation of children
Children referred to by boat numbers and not their names, limits on communication, taunting of children by detention centre staff.
Hear the voices of children held in immigration detention.
Watch this animated, interactive web documentary that brings to life the real and harrowing experiences of children locked inside immigration detention centres around the world. Based on a series of phone calls made by director Tim Travers Hawkins, the documentary provides a powerful and intimate insight into the voices and stories of children enduring the trauma of detention, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll it takes on their young lives.
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