Members of CRI participated in the 2015 Walk for Justice to raise the awareness of the public to the plight of children in detention. The walk also aimed to convey to policy makers of all political persuasions that the current policies are in contravention of the United Nations conventions to which Australia is a signatory, and contrary to human rights, the rights of children and the rule of law, all of which Australia purports to support.
We have posted some of our past video presentations and will add others as they are produced. We will also link to additional video presentations that promote or advance the rights of the child, juvenile justice and general human rights in the interest of public information and education.
by the Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO, RFD, QC
This report follows on from my recent Cambodian visit in July 2015.
With the assistance of substantial donations from the World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights and a generous private donor we have been able to plan two seminars to be held in Phnom Penh on 12-13 November and Siem Reap on 16-17 November 2015. This is most welcome because for an unfortunate number of circumstances we were unable to maintain the momentum generated by our 2012-13 programs through 2014 as we had planned.
My July visit was intended to plan these seminars in discussions with interested parties, including the Cambodian Ministry of Justice, senior members of the judiciary in Cambodia and UNICEF. The location of the seminars was selected by the Ministry of Justice and the participants will come from the populous Phnom Penh area in the case of the first one and the three adjoining provinces of Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Battambang in the case of the second.
It is proposed that these seminars will be repeated in different parts of the country in 2016-17, together with such other programs that may be developed, particularly if the Juvenile Justice legislation is passed, or recommendations for specialist judges are accepted.
As a result of my discussions with UNICEF Cambodia we now have an additional project for 2015, namely to support a visit by about 8 senior Cambodian visitors to Melbourne to gain further familiarity with the Victorian child justice system, which we expect to take place in October 2015.
UNICEF have also indicated willingness to become involved and support the seminars as well. We worked closely with UNICEF in our 2012 programs in Cambodia and it is pleasing that this co-operation continues.
The Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Child Rights Taskforce invite you to a special discussion on the rights of children in Australia, as well as to launch CRC25 - the Australian Child Rights Progress Report.
Event details: Friday, 10th June 2016. 12:30pm - 1:30pm. At the Australian Human Rights Commission, L3, 175 Pitt St, Sydney.
How has the situation improved for children since Australia ratified the Convention on Rights of Child was ratified in Australia in 1990? Where has there been a lack of progress?
Please register: https://crc25.eventbrite.com.au
Constitutional change is key to a strong treaty with Indigenous Australians
by the Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO, RFD, QC
Published in Arena Magazine no. 141, April-May 2016: www.arena.org.au
The Aboriginal leader Djiniyini Gondarra has said:
‘The survival of the Aboriginal people relies on changes to the Constitution and the establishment of a Treaty. The Treaty needs to be born out of the people who have a strong connection with land, culture, spirituality and law rather than being established by government or a committee formed by government. It should be established by the people that maintain tradition because the necessary tools are already in place.’
The purpose of this article is to support the views expressed by Djiniyini Gondarra in the above quote: first, the need for changes to the Constitution; second, the establishment of a treaty; and, third, that it needs to be born out of the people concerned, who have a strong connection with land, culture, spirituality and law, rather than being established by government or a committee formed by it.
Children's Rights International (CRI) as extremely pleased to receive notification from UNICEF (Viet Nam) of the creation of Viet Nam's first dedicated children's court - the Family and Juvenile Court.
The Law on the Organiszation of the Supreme People's Court was passed by the National Assembly of Viet Nam on 24 November 2014 and subsequently promulgated by the President of Viet Nam. This law establishes the new Family and Juvenile Court.
UNICEF has been working for many years with the Vietnamese authorities to achieve this positive outcome. CRI was pleased to make its contribution and thanks UNICEF for their acknowledgement. We congratulate all involved in achieving this positive development for children and the justice system in Viet Nam.
On Thursday (4 June 2015) GETUP delivering the petition straight to Parliament House calling for the immediate release of all children and their families from Australian-run detention centres. In addition to delivering the petition, 231 children's silhouettes were placed along the lawn, as well as the large block letters spelling 'KIDS OUT'.
The petition was supported by a range of concerned NGOs.
Because not everyone could be in Canberra for the delivery of the petition, GETUP, with the support of agencies such as CRI, would like to encourage as many Australians as possible to also call for the release of the children held in detention. Concerned Australians are asked to participate in a call for social media action.
You can participate in the social media action by:
Here's an example:
"When I was in fifth grade, my dad surprised me with a puppy, whom I named Sharna. We were best friends, I remember as a kid I felt like I could share anything with her.
But today, there are 231 children who are currently being denied the opportunity to make memories like these for themselves. They are locked in Australian-run detention centres by our government.
All children should be given a chance to enjoy their childhood, that's why I'm calling for our government to get #kidsout today."
Don't forget to encourage your friends and family to take part too!
See more at GETUP: Solidarity Action for Kids Out!
The World Today with Eleanor Hall, Friday 28 November 2014, ABC News Radio, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
NICK GRIMM: Pressure is growing on the Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to release all children from immigration detention centres immediately.
In a rare foray into domestic politics overnight, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jakarta criticised Australia's detention of child asylum seekers, describing it as harmful and a breach of international law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
It comes in a week when a group of prominent Australians launched a social media campaign urging an immediate end to the policy of detaining children.
But the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection says the number of children in detention has been reducing since the Government was elected and there are now almost 50 per cent fewer children across all immigration detention centres.
Further in a statement, the Minister says he will be able to get the remaining children out of detention in Australia when his migration and maritime powers bill, which is currently before the Parliament, is passed.
At the moment, there are more than 700 children in immigration detention facilities in Australia and offshore.
Now that figure appals the former chief justice of the Family Court of Australia, now the chairman of Children's Rights International, Alastair Nicholson.
"The Cambodian Government is to be commended for the introduction of the Juvenile Justice Law. It is the culmination of hard work by many people and organisations and we at Children's Rights International are proud to have been involved in this process. In doing so we have worked closely with our partners, Legal Aid Cambodia and UNICEF in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice over many years. I make particular mention of Legal Aid Cambodia whose dedication to the rights of children in Cambodia has provided great leadership in this process".
by the Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO, RFD, QC
13 February 2015
The report of the Australian Human Rights Commission's National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention provides compelling evidence of the need for Australia to cease the detention of children once and for all. Drawing on interviews in detention facilities with more than 1000 children and their parents, the report offers a deeply disturbing record of the harm inflicted on so many children by successive governments. The Government, Opposition and all members of the Australian Parliament must take immediate action to ensure that all children are released from Australian-funded detention centres, in Australia and Nauru, and to ensure that these policies are never repeated.
The indefinite mass detention of children is a national disgrace for which both of Australia's major political parties bear responsibility. Under the Rudd and Gillard Governments, record numbers of children were detained, reaching a peak of 1,992 in July 2013. Under the Abbott Government, hundreds of children have experienced prolonged detention, with the average time spent in detention rising from three months in August 2013 to more than 14 months in January 2015. In doing this, governments have ignored numerous reports, including from the Commission's previous national inquiry in 2004, which have outlined detention's shocking impacts on the mental health of children.
Read more: Joint statement by Australian organisations and community groups
VENUE: Crown Conference Centre, Melbourne (Level 1)
DATES: July 28 and 29, from 8.30am
NCAB Conference: Justice Alastair Nicholson calls for Aboriginal influence in Royal Commission
Former Chief Justice of the Family Court Alistair Nicholson has called on the Turnbull Government to include an
Aboriginal representative on to the royal commission into alleged abuses at a juvenile justice facility in the Northern Territory.
“I’ve talked to some of my Aboriginal friends and they’ve told me they’ve had enough of having things done to them, and that they wanted to be involved,” Justice Nicholson said.
He deplored the alleged abuses in the detention facility, revealed by ABC’s Four Corners, and said he hoped that any investigation “would not be a whitewash”
Calling for the inclusion of a senior Aboriginal representative on the royal Commission, Justice Nicholson said “it would add great weight to the commission.”
Justice Nicholson today officially opened the two-day National Centre against Bullying (NCAB) conference in Melbourne, an initiative of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.
After his opening address, Justice Nicholson said of the Four Corners footage, “this is one of the most horrific things I’ve seen, I couldn’t believe I was in Australia”
The conference hosts world leading local and international guest speakers, presenters and delegates with this year’s conference taking on the theme ‘Towards bullying solutions: theory and practice.’
Media inquiries contact Adrian Bernecich: 0416 045 701 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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