8/3/2019 Press Release: NGOs urge Asia Pacific governments to end the immigration detention of children

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NGOs urge Asia Pacific governments to end the immigration detention of children

Regional meeting in Malaysia address concerns about the growing use of immigrationdetention and the need for alternatives to detention in Asia Pacific.

Kuala Lumpur, 25th November 2011. Fifty non-governments organization (NGOs) from

18 countries met on Thursday and Friday to address the growing problem of immigrationdetention in the Asia Pacific region. Increasingly countries are using immigrationdetention in the first instance to manage irregular migration, even where there are novalid security concerns. International research has found that immigration detention isdamaging, costly and does not deter irregular migration. Alternatives to detention existand proven to be cheaper, humane and effective.

In South, South East and East Asia many individuals are detained for prolonged periods,in conditions below international standards, and denied the right to asylum proceduresand to review their detention.

International Detention Coalition (IDC) Director, Grant Mitchell, said, The detention

environment has consistently been found to negatively impact on physical and mental health and increase the likelihood of ill-treatment, human rights abuses and refoulement.Particular concerns exist for refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable groups, such aschildren.

To address this, many States have begun exploring and implementing alternatives toimmigration detention, which have been found to be cheaper than detention andeffective in ensuring compliance in the community. Alternatives to detention are morehumane, effective and fulfill human rights and governments must start using them for vulnerable groups such as children, unaccompanied minors and families.In this region, Thailand and Japan have both released large number of refugee childrenfrom detention over the past year.

In line with international standards, there should be a presumption against the use of immigration detention, which must be a last resort, reviewable, for the shortest possibleperiod, independently monitored and with adequate safeguards and conditions.

NGOs are calling on governments across Asia Pacific to use the 60th anniversaryof the Refugee Convention to commit end the detention of children.

Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) Coordinator, Anoop Sukumaran said , It

8/3/2019 Press Release: NGOs urge Asia Pacific governments to end the immigration detention of children

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is absolutely crucial that Governments ensure that alternatives to immigration detentionbe explored and pursued in the first instance, particularly for vulnerable groups such aschildren.

The workshop occurs two weeks before a high level ministerial meeting in Geneva tocommemorate the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention. The InternationalDetention Coalition and the APRRN and its members call upon states to use thisoccasion to pledge to end the immigration detention of children by consideringalternatives to immigration detention.

Contact: Anoop Sukumaran +66 8910 35708; Grant Mitchell +61 403194665

Note to editors:

The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights NetworkThe Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network is comprised by over 100 civil societyorganizations and individuals committed to advancing the rights of refugees in the AsiaPacific region through information sharing, joint advocacy and capacity building.

The Immigration Detention Working Group (IDWG)The Immigration Detention Working Group (IDWG) of the Asia Pacific Refugee RightsNetwork consists of more than 50 organizations and individuals from 12 countries in theAsia Pacific region who aim to work together for the rights, dignity and well being of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in detention in the Asia Pacific Region.

The International Detention Coalition (IDC)The IDC is an international coalition with a membership base of more than 200 non-governmental organisations, faith-based groups, academics, practitioners andindividuals working in 50 countries globally. Coalition members research, advocate andprovide direct services to and on behalf of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants.The IDC advocates for greater respect for the human rights of detainees; this includespreventing and limiting the use of, seeking alternatives to, and using the least restrictiveforms of, immigration detention.

Interantional Detention CoalitionC/O HUB Melbourne, Level 3, 673 Bourke StreetMelbourne, Victoria3000, Australiahttp://idcoalition.org/

Asia Pacific Refugee Rights (APRRN)1203, 12th Floor, Times Square building,Bangkok, Thailandhttp://refugeerightsasiapacific.org/