Detention practices enquiry

Margaret Reynolds describes the UNAA Peoples Commission of Inquiry into Australian Detention Practices, and the urgent need to lobby for a royal commission.

The United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) has embarked on an information gathering exercise to collate knowledge about Australian Detention Practices in response to ongoing community disquiet about
the treatment of asylum seekers.

The UNAA's Peoples Commission of Inquiry will enable its members and associates to contribute to a central data base so that the experience of detainees can be recorded and forwarded to appropriate authorities including, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and Australian based government and parliamentary enquiries.

Over the past twelve months there have been repeated calls for independent assessment of conditions within detention centres and for judicial review or a Royal Commission to open up scrutiny of detention policy. In the absence of these official mechanisms the Peoples Commission will rely on those people living,working or visiting detention centres to provide important insight into the need for policy reform.

Anecdotal reporting of major disturbances,deaths and attempted suicide,child abuse and the overall punitive environment of Australia's detention centres indicates that efforts must be made to compile a comprehensive account of life within detention. Clearly without an official inquiry this will not be an easy task,but the Peoples Commission is an interim measure to try to collect personal stories which reflect individual experience. UNAA will continue its advocacy for a Royal Commission.

It is hoped that the Peoples Commission will encourage
detainees,former detainees and families,detention staff,official visitors,legal advisers and media to be involved in recording information which could be used to develop an alternative approach to mandatory detention of all asylum seekers.

The Peoples Commission will invite comment on:

Living Conditions , Privacy , Psychological Impact
Medical Facilities, Education and Recreation Facilities, Counselling
Management Practices, Staff Training, Cultural Awareness
Access to Information Access to Legal Advice, Appeals Process
Special Needs of Children, Special Needs of Women
Depression, Violence, Punishment, Suicide
Release into the Community, Work Rights, Temporary Protection Visas
Deportation Procedures

For further information contact:

Margaret Reynolds, National President <margaret.reynolds@bigpond.com>

David Purnell, National Administrator <larkspur@cyberone.com.au>

about wilpf

actions

journal

contacts

join wilpf

site map

This page is copyright to the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Australian Section). For purposes of genuinely furthering the cause of world peace and the emancipation of women, material from this web page may be freely copied and distributed so long as acknowledgement is made of its source. Page last updated March 2002. The current path to this website is <http://www.dragon-amazon.net/wilpfaustralia>. Please email any comments/thoughts on the website.