[child-rights] Australia/UK: Governments fail to heed children's desperate plea

* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *

18 July 2002
ASA 12/008/2002


Amnesty International is extremely disappointed by the hasty
decision made by the UK Foreign Secretary regarding the desperate
requests for protection made by two children, aged 12 and 13, and
believed to be ethnic Hazara Afghans, in the British Consulate in
Melbourne, Australia.  Following this decision, the boys have
been handed over to the Australian Federal Police and taken to
Maribyrnong Detention Centre in Melbourne.

       Both the UK and Australian governments have committed
themselves to a raft of international law which should have been
used as the standards for the treatment of these children.  The
UK should have taken a more cautious approach in keeping with its
obligations to the boys under international law, in particular
the Convention on the Rights of the Child which requires all
decisions regarding children to be made in the best interests of
the child.

       "Both the UK and Australian governments have failed these
children on a grand scale.  The series of events these children
have endured speaks volumes about their desperation;  their
flight to Australia, being held for 18 months in the notorious
Woomera Detention Centre which has seen serious disturbances
including self-harm, hunger strikes, riots and escapes, and now
being denied protection by the UK government," Amnesty
International said.

       "It is difficult to find any evidence that either party
has given any regard to the best interests of these boys."

       "Detaining children for up to five years, frequent
rioting and self-harm by detainees, are not acceptable
by-products of refugee processing. Legitimate border control and
the fight against people smuggling can be achieved without
violating human rights," Amnesty International said.

       Pending resolution of the family's refugee status,
Amnesty International urges the Australian Immigration Minister
to use his discretion to release the children from custody.



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