AMA calls for fast tracking of children in detention report
AMA Federal Treasurer, Dr Allan Zimet, today called for the earliest possible release of the findings of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's (HREOC) Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention.
The AMA, along with other members of the Professional Alliance for the Health of Asylum Seekers and their Children (the Alliance), made some key health care recommendations to the Inquiry in May last year. But the findings of the report might not be released until March 2004.
Dr Zimet is today representing the AMA at the Forgotten Rights-Responding to the Crisis of Asylum Seeker Health Care Summit in Sydney. The summit will address ongoing psychological and psychiatric issues related to children and families in immigration detention.
"It is possible that the report's release could be delayed until around two years after its commencement.
"One hundred and eighty kids under 14 years of age are still in detention. They should be released now. Evidence of the harmful effects of prolonged detention on children is well documented.
"Two years is a long time in the life of a child," Dr Zimet said.
Among its submissions to the Inquiry in May 2002, the Alliance said that:
- from its focus on the physical and mental health needs of children and their parents, and the best available evidence relating to the impact on children of Australia's current mandatory detention policy for asylum seekers, the Alliance concludes that children should not be held in anything other than minimal detention for processing purposes only.
- all children and their families who do not constitute risks to national security or the community be removed from detention and placed in the community or an open detention environment with access to all necessary services including health, welfare, education for children and language skills for carers.
- there be an immediate clinical review of the physical and mental health status of asylum seekers in detention (clinical review) undertaken by independent health professionals (under the auspices of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges) to gain a better understanding of the health status and needs of those asylum seekers. This would include a comprehensive assessment of children taking into account their bio-psycho-social-developmental and educational needs.
"The AMA believes the HREOC report should be released well before the next Federal election," Dr Zimet said.
"In the meantime, the Government must take a more compassionate approach to the health needs of people in detention.
"For some time now, the AMA has called for doctors to be able to freely enter to help patients and report on medical cases in all detention centres.
"While in the care of the Australian Government, asylum seekers should have access to the same level of high quality medical care as Australian citizens," Dr Zimet said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306