The United Nations has explicitly condemned the Liberal Government’s abhorrent treatment of Tasmanian children in detention at Ashley Youth Detention Centre, in a Universal Periodic Review of Australia’s human rights compliance.
In the Review, serious concerns were expressed that children were being kept in solitary confinement at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. This practice is a clear breach of the Liberal Government’s responsibilities under the Convention Against Torture.
It’s completely detestable that Tasmanian children have been locked in solitary confinement at Ashley Youth Detention Centre, in contravention of their human rights. The Commission of Inquiry could not have been clearer about the need for this practice to stop, and we need to hear an urgent update from the government on whether that has happened.
Concerns over the low age of criminal responsibility were also raised by the UN. Increasing the age of criminal responsibility was a recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry, but the Liberal Government still hasn’t stopped locking up Tasmanian kids as young as ten.
The Liberals must take action now to protect the human rights of Tasmanian children in youth detention, as long promised.
