Amnesty International Australia denounces the Northern Territory government’s harmful plan to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 10 years, reintroduce spit hoods in youth detention, and enact punitive measures. Critics argue these changes will worsen the plight of First Nations children and run counter to international human rights standards. Amnesty calls for urgent national reforms to protect the welfare of children in the justice system, urging the NT government to abandon these dangerous policies informed by the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
Amnesty International Australia vehemently opposes the Northern Territory government’s alarming initiative to lower the age of criminal responsibility to just 10 years, along with the reintroduction of spit hoods in youth detention centers. This move, cloaked in the guise of reform under the Finocchiaro CLP government, aims to overhaul policing, detention practices, and criminalization within the next legislative session. However, many of these regressive policies stand in stark contrast to the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, as well as violation of international human rights standards. Lowering the age of criminal responsibility is a direct threat, particularly to First Nations children, reinforcing systemic disadvantage and persistent racism within the justice system. Kacey Teerman, Amnesty International Australia’s Indigenous Rights campaigner, sharply criticizes this approach, stating, “The Country Liberal Party’s dangerous plan to further criminalise and incarcerate children as young as 10 years old and subject them to torturous practices of solitary confinement and spit-hoods underscores the urgent need for national standards for youth justice that protect the human rights of children.” The political environment in the Northern Territory, lacking the checks and balances of a bicameral system, may expedite the passage of these harmful laws, further endangering vulnerable youths. Teerman warns that, “Unicameral systems like the Northern Territory and Queensland parliaments lack the oversight of a second chamber. This means that the swathes of youth justice legislation… will have little to no scrutiny, further exacerbating the risk that these rushed, reactionary laws will harm vulnerable children.” Compliance with international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, is fundamental. They enshrine the principles of dignity, respect, and fairness for children within the justice framework. Amnesty International joins forces with other human rights entities, calling for national leadership to reform Australia’s youth justice system to align with these international obligations, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize the welfare of children in detention. As this precarious legislation looms, Amnesty insists on heeding the evidence provided by the Royal Commission, urging the NT government to abandon these harmful proposals. “The NT government’s plan is a misguided approach to youth crime that will have long-term negative consequences for children, particularly Indigenous children, in the Territory,” reiterates Teerman. The relentless cycle of trauma perpetuated by incarcerating children, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, demands an urgent reevaluation of policies; locking them up only deepens the chasm of despair and disadvantage. In light of these pressing issues, Amnesty International strongly calls upon the Northern Territory government to listen to the collective urgent wisdom of human rights advocates and reshape their approach to youth justice—before it’s too late.
The Northern Territory has faced intense scrutiny regarding its treatment of children in the justice system, particularly after reports highlighting severe human rights abuses against Indigenous youth. Recent proposals to lower the age of criminal responsibility and implement punitive measures threaten to violate established human rights norms and exacerbate existing challenges of over-incarceration and systemic inequality. This context creates a critical need for a national framework that prioritizes the rights and welfare of vulnerable children rather than punitive measures that often result in long-lasting harm.
The Northern Territory government’s initiative to lower the age of criminal responsibility and reintroduce punitive practices in youth detention not only contradicts the recommendations from the Royal Commission but also poses significant risks to vulnerable children, particularly those from Indigenous communities. Organizations like Amnesty International advocate for a reformed youth justice system grounded in human rights, calling for an urgent abandonment of these harmful measures. The call for national standards reflects a need for collective responsibility in safeguarding the rights and welfare of the most vulnerable members of society.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org.au
