The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on torture has called on State Parliament to vote down proposed Adult Crime, Adult Time laws, stating they are “incompatible with basic child rights”.
In an open letter to Australian authorities, Alice Jill Edwards, with Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples Albert K. Barume, expressed concern about the Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill due to be passed this week.
“If passed, the Queensland bill would result in additional adult penalties being applied to children for a wide range of offences,” they said.
“This would have an especially negative impact on the lives of indigenous children, who are already disproportionately represented in the criminal legal system.
“We urge members of the Queensland Parliament to vote against the bill.”
The UN representatives said there was a crisis nationwide for youth justice, and the first goal should always be to keep children out of prison.
“Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention,” they said.
“We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future under-class of Australians.
“Juvenile facilities should prioritise education and rehabilitation to support childhood development.
“Criminal justice reform alone does not result in fewer anti-social or criminal behaviours.”
Read Queensland Law Society’s submission on the Adults Crime, Adult Time bill here.
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