Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: - Opening session: Kids Behind Bars in
Palestine and the Rest of the World [news]
- Bethlehem declaration [statement]
- Resources [reports, books, campaigns]
- DCI President Condemns Israeli Occupation
and Violation of Children's Rights [news]
- Australia: Detention Regime in Breach of
International Human Rights [report]
5 July 2005 CRINMAIL 692: Special Edition on the International
Conference: ''Kids Behind Bars - A Child Rights Perspective''
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- OPENING SESSION: Kids Behind Bars in Palestine and the Rest of the
World [news]
- BETHLEHEM DECLARATION: Children Do Not Belong Behind Bars
[statement]
- RESOURCES: Children in Conflict with the Law [reports, books, campaigns]
- OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: New DCI President Condemns
Israeli Occupation and Violation of Children's Rights [news]
- AUSTRALIA: Detention Regime in Breach of International Human Rights
[report]
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- OPENING SESSION: Kids Behind Bars in Palestine and the Rest of the
World [news]
The International Conference on juvenile justice, ''Kids Behind Bars'',
organised by Defence for Children International - Palestine section, took
place last week in Bethlehem, in Palestine. It brought together over 100
representatives from local and international NGOs, government bodies, UN
bodies such as the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and professionals
working on the front line of juvenile justice - judges, lawyers, social
workers, etc. Participants also included 100 children who had participated
in DCI-Palestine's 3rd National Children's Conference earlier the same
week in Bethlehem.
In his opening speech, DCI-Palestine General Director, George Abu Al-Zulof,
explained that the Conference was "an opportunity to make a difference to
the lives of millions of children across the world who find their core rights
threatened when they come into conflict with the law. Together, he said,
we hope to turn this knowledge and experience into strategies for
concrete action, so that when we leave in three days time, we not only
have a better understanding of the issues at stake, but also a better idea
of how to go about tackling these issues and protecting and empowering
children, wherever they may be."
Nidal Al Ayasa, a 16-year-old Palestinian refugee and representative from
the Children's Conference, then welcomed the participants. He talked
about the 3rd Annual National Children's Conference whose theme was
also: "Kids Behind Bars". He explained that children came from all over the
Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Syrian Golan Heights to exchange
their real-life experiences and discuss common issues. But he specified that
children from Gaza had not been able to attend, due to the restriction of
movement imposed by Israel.
He carried on: "Many of the children in attendance are ex-child detainees.
We have been taking part in workshops on various issues, including the
torture of children inside Israeli detention centres and prisons, children
behind the segregation wall, rehabilitation and working with ex-child
detainees." Nidal then read a series of recommendations drawn by children
for the rights of children all over the world who are suffering behind bars.
He finished his speech with a plea for direct help on the part of the
Conference participants: "I wish that these recommendations which I have
just read out will be taken seriously and not just put on the shelf to gather
dust. As a child, and in particular as a Palestinian child, I have little or no
influence over governments' actions nor have I any power to stop my
rights from being violated. So, I would like to ask all of you here to add
these recommendations to the ones you already have in your work in
promoting and defending the rights of children all over the world. I don't
know to what extent you can spread our message or pressurise
governments to put a stop to violations of children's rights, but I sure hope
that you will try."
To know more about the Conference, visit:
http://www.dci-pal.org/english/home.cfm
To read the children's recommendations, go to:
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5810
To read the opening speeches in full, go to:
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5809
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5811
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- BETHLEHEM DECLARATION: Children Do Not Belong Behind Bars
[statement]
The "Kids Behind Bars" Conference enabled the drafting of the Bethlehem
Declaration. On Saturday 2 July, last day of the Conference, DCI Palestine
President, Rifat Kassis, read the Bethlehem Declaration to the participants:
1. A statement by the International Executive Council of Defence for
Children International based upon the presentations and discussions of
the international conference "No Kids Behind Bars - A Child Rights
Perspective" of DCI, gathered in Bethlehem, Occupied Palestinian Territory
on 30 June - 2 July 2005.
2. Children do not belong behind bars. Children should go to school. They
should be playing with their friends. They should be together with their
families.
3. Different studies have estimated that over one million boys and girls are
behind bars world-wide, too often in horrific, degrading, overcrowded and
violent conditions. Detention should be considered as an option only for
the very small number of children who have committed violent and serious
offences.
4. The majority of children currently behind bars do not belong there. Many
have committed only petty crimes and are still awaiting trial. Many have
committed no crime at all such as street children, political prisoners,
refugee and asylum seekers, children with mental disabilities and others
detained without judicial process.
5. One hundred and ninety-two governments have already committed to
the general principles outlined in this document by ratifying the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Nevertheless children
in prison and detention remain abused and forgotten.
6. At the same time, repressive policies and actions have been promoted
and implemented by the governments of many countries. These measures
have significantly increased the number of children behind bars.
7. Putting boys and girls behind bars and separating them from their
families and communities seriously damages their physical, mental and
social development. Many do not receive adequate food, health care or
education. Children are exposed to physical, psychological and sexual
abuse and may become infected with HIV. Detention leads to lifelong
stigmatisation, which hampers reintegration of children into communities.
8. During this international conference we have learnt that thousands of
Palestinian children have been arrested and detained by the Israeli
Occupation Forces since September 2000 for political reasons, as a
deliberate policy designed to strengthen and maintain the Israeli
occupation.
9. For us, this situation is unacceptable. Thousands of Palestinian children
have been detained during mass, arbitrary arrest campaigns over the last
four years and are often used as political hostages to the negotiation
process. These children should not be used as bargaining chips.
To read the Bethlehem Declaration in full, go to:
http://www.dci-pal.org/english/display.cfm?DocId=420&CategoryId=4
To read the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile
Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines), go to:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/juvenile.htm
To read the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration
of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules), go to:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/beijingrules.htm
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- RESOURCES: Children in Conflict with the Law [reports, books, campaigns]
DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL NETHERLANDS: Children Deprived
of Liberty Rights and Realities [book]
In all parts of the world, excessive use is made of the deprivation of liberty
of children by State authorities. There are an estimated one million children
in closed establishments throughout the world. The Convention on the
Rights of the Child states that the arrest, detention or imprisonment of a
child must be in conformity with the law, and only used as a measure of
last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. Despite the
commitment made by States by ratifying this instrument, this book,
launched at the Conference, shows that the conditions of detention for
most children fall far short of international standards.
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5814
DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL PALESTINE: Stolen Youth: The
Politics of Israel's Detention of Palestinian Children [report]
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=3925
SAVE THE CHILDREN SWEDEN: One Day in Prison - Feels Like a Year:
Palestinian Children Tell Their Own Stories [report]
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=4049
ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION CENTRE: "The Palestinian Child: the Politics of
Prisoners", News from Within [article]
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5816
DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL: No Kids Behind Bars [campaign]
The main objective of DCI's No Kids Behind Bars! global campaign is to
promote the implementation by States of the international standard that
the arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child must be in conformity with
the law, and must be used only as a measure of last resort and for the
shortest appropriate period of time.
Visit: http://www.kidsbehindbars.org
For more information on juvenile justice issues:
Browse CRIN's online database of resources:
http://www.crin.org/themes/viewTheme.asp?ID=16&name=Juvenile+Justice
Visit CRIN's website on violence against children:
http://www.crin.org/violence/formsofviolence/index.asp
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- OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: New DCI President Condemns
Israeli Occupation and Violation of Children's Rights [news]
The General Assembly of Defence for Children International has elected the
President of DCI/PS, Rifat Qassis, as President of the international
movement for the next three years. The meeting took place from 27-29
June, in Bethlehem, Palestine and brought together representatives from
DCI branches world-wide. The president of the Belgian section of DCI
supervised the election process and five deputies from Africa, Asia, Latin
America, Europe and Australia were also elected.
The election of Mr. Qassis represents an important achievement for
Palestinian children, in particular Palestinian children in Israeli prisons and
detention centres. Mr. Qassis was congratulated by Professor Jaap Doek,
president of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and his deputy
Norberto Liwski on the success of his candidacy.
The General Assembly passed a declaration that expressed their utmost
and sincere gratitude to the people of Bethlehem and to the Palestinian
section of DCI for their warm hospitality. The declaration denounced the
discriminatory action of the Israeli authorities which denied visas to the
representatives of the sections of Congo, Uganda, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Togo, Nigeria, Angola, Benin.
The meeting also condemned the Israeli occupation and the violations of
Palestinian human rights, especially those of children. Representatives
called for international protection according to the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child and other international instruments. Those in
attendance expressed solidarity and support to Palestinian children and
called for the immediate release of all children from Israeli prisons and
detention centres.
Visit: http://www.dci-pal.org/english/display.cfm?DocId=415&CategoryId=1
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- AUSTRALIA: Detention Regime in Breach of International Human Rights
[report]
[29 June 2005] - Australia's asylum policy is having an appalling human
cost with children being kept behind razor wire for many months and
people whose asylum applications have been dismissed but who cannot be
returned to their countries of origin being detained indefinitely, according
to a new report published today.
In launching its report: "Australia: The Impact of Indefinite Detention - the
Case to Change Australia's Mandatory Detention Regime" (also presented
at the Conference in Bethlehem) Amnesty International called on the
Australian Government, as a matter of urgency, to make comprehensive
amendments to the policy and legislation of Australia's mandatory
detention regime to ensure that no person is detained in violation of their
human rights.
"People seeking asylum in Australia from human rights abuses in other
countries are currently met with a system that further violates their human
rights. These violations include administrative detention for a prolonged
and potentially indefinite period of time," said Amnesty International.
"Australia's mandatory detention regime continues to fall far short of
international standards for the treatment and protection of refugees and
asylum-seekers and the protection of the human rights of persons whose
asylum applications have been dismissed," said Amnesty International.
In Australia, asylum-seekers arriving without adequate documentation are
subject to the provisions of the Migration Act, which imposes mandatory
detention until a decision is made in their case. They may be detained for a
prolonged period, until they are recognised as refugees and released, or
following a negative decision, removed or deported.
The lack of independent review of the lawfulness of detention and the
absence of any maximum statutory time limit for detention means that
detention can not only be prolonged, it can also continue indefinitely in
circumstances where it is not possible to remove a failed asylum-seeker
from Australia.
For more information, contact:
Amnesty International - International Secretariat
99-119 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4RE, UK
Tel: + 44 20 7814 6200; Fax: + 44 20 7833 1510
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.amnesty.org
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5818
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