News
ALA joins #KidsOffNauru campaign
22nd Aug 2018
The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has joined the call to remove children from detention on Nauru before Universal Children’s Day on 20 November.
The #KidsOffNauru campaign organised by World Vision is asking the government to free the 119 children currently being detained on Nauru within the next 100 days.
“The ALA has been a strong opponent of off-shore detention for asylum seekers for many years so we were happy to give our support to this campaign,” said ALA National President, Noor Blumer. “We are deeply concerned that, despite assurance from the Government in 2016 that no children would be kept in off-shore detention, there are still more than 100 children on Nauru.
“The Australian government has a non-delegable duty of care to asylum seekers and we know that offshore detention is a profoundly negative environment for children.
“The children on Nauru are living in an unsafe and inhumane environment without sufficient access to health care and education and without any certainty for the future.
“Detaining children on Nauru shows no decency or compassion and, in addition, Australia could be held legally responsible for any abuse or physical or mental deterioration of these children if it could be shown that the abuse occurred while they were in detention.
“Our off-shore processing and detention regime is cruel and inhumane. There are countless stories of children witnessing violence, the sexual abuse of children and medical neglect.
“Let’s not forget, these children and their parents have only asked Australia for help when they were being persecuted at home. They have committed no crime.
“These children deserve certainty and the opportunity to enjoy a normal childhood.”
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