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Christmas Island asylum families feeling 'despair and helplessness' Christmas Island asylum families feeling 'despair and helplessness'
(about 9 hours later)
Australia's human rights commission president, Gillian Triggs, has called for the government to move all asylum seeker children and families in immigration detention on Christmas Island to the Australian mainland, following a recent inspection visit, which revealed the ongoing “despair and helplessness” among the detainee population who continue to experience a spike in levels of self-harm and depression. Australia must move all asylum seeker children and families from Christmas Island to the mainland after an inspection revealed their “despair and helplessness”, the human rights watchdog says.
The commission visit, which formed part of the ongoing inquiry into children in immigration detention, took place on 14 July, when the delegation verified that 10 women were placed on 24-hour watch for self-harm and suicide and a total of 13 considered high risk. Guardian Australia was told by Christmas Island sources on Wednesday that there are currently six women on constant watch – meaning a guard sits outside their room with the door open at all times – and four men at the Northwest Point centre that had self-harmed. Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs said a 14 July visit by its team showed that the situation on the island had “significantly deteriorated” since a meeting between detainees and immigration staff a week earlier, when many asked to be moved to the mainland for the sake of their children.
Earlier in the month prime minister Tony Abbott said that asylum seekers who self-harmed were attempting to hold the government over a “moral barrel”, following reports that at least one woman had attempted suicide on Christmas Island and a number of mothers had been placed on 24-hour watch. The government argued these reports were exaggerated. The commission inspectors verified that 10 women were placed on 24-hour watch for self-harm and suicide and a total of 13 were considered high risk.
But Guardian Australia revealed a leaked document showing the government’s own advice was to expect high rates of self-harm amongst asylum seekers, particularly on Christmas Island following the introduction of mandatory offshore resettlement last year, with the rate of self harm rising sixfold since then. Calling on the government to move the detainees, Triggs said: “They are plagued by despair and helplessness at the seemingly endless period of detention. While I am encouraged that the department intends to set up a school for children, for the past year, children have had no education or structured physical activity.
The July visit marks the second visit the inquiry has made to Christmas Island, with Triggs observing “the situation has significantly deteriorated”. “Parents are asking for their children to be moved to the mainland where they will be safe and have access to medical facilities.”
In a statement, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said the situation for mothers detained on Christmas Island had deteriorated following a 7 July meeting with immigration staff where many asked to be moved to the Australian mainland for better facilities for their children. Guardian Australia was told by Christmas Island sources on Wednesday that there were currently six women on constant watch – meaning a guard sits outside their room with the door open at all times. Four men at the Northwest Point centre have self-harmed.
“The mothers were concerned that there are no places for babies to learn to crawl or walk in the 3x3 metal containers where they are confined in the extreme heat. These rooms contain a bunk bed and a cot and this leaves only one square metre of space,” the statement said. Earlier in the month the prime minister, Tony Abbott, said asylum seekers who self-harmed were attempting to hold the government over a “moral barrel”, following reports that at least one woman had attempted suicide on Christmas Island and a number of mothers had been placed on 24-hour watch. The government argued these reports were exaggerated.
Paediatrician Professor Elizabeth Elliott accompanied the AHRC visit and said: “Christmas Island is no place for infants and young children. Most were ill with chest or gut infections – reflecting the large number of families living in unacceptably cramped and high density accommodation intended for ‘temporary’ use.” But Guardian Australia revealed a leaked document showing the government’s own advice was to expect high rates of self-harm amongst asylum seekers, particularly on Christmas Island following the introduction of mandatory offshore resettlement last year, with the rate of self-harm rising sixfold since then.
She added: “The physical environment is totally unsuitable and children suffer from recurrent asthma and irritation of the eyes and skin is common, reflecting the dirty environment and raising questions about the causal effect of atmospheric phosphate dust from the local mine.” The latest visit is the second the commission has made to the island.
In a statement, the AHRC said: “The mothers were concerned that there are no places for babies to learn to crawl or walk in the 3x3 metre metal containers where they are confined in the extreme heat. These rooms contain a bunk bed and a cot and this leaves only one square metre of space.”
Elizabeth Elliott, a professor of paediatrics at the University of Sydney who accompanied the AHRC inspectors, said: “Christmas Island is no place for infants and young children. Most were ill with chest or gut infections – reflecting the large number of families living in unacceptably cramped and high density accommodation intended for ‘temporary’ use.”
She added: “The physical environment is totally unsuitable and children suffer from recurrent asthma and irritation of the eyes and skin is common, reflecting the dirty environment and raising questions about the causal effect of atmospheric phosphate dust from the local mine.
“Of greatest concern was the high rate of distress – anxiety, depression and self-harm amongst otherwise healthy young mothers with young children … Many mothers are depressed after giving birth and suffering health problems related to childbirth and the unhygienic conditions in the camps. This maternal distress has the added impact of disrupting the mother-child bond and will potentially have lasting adverse effects on the mental health of their children.”“Of greatest concern was the high rate of distress – anxiety, depression and self-harm amongst otherwise healthy young mothers with young children … Many mothers are depressed after giving birth and suffering health problems related to childbirth and the unhygienic conditions in the camps. This maternal distress has the added impact of disrupting the mother-child bond and will potentially have lasting adverse effects on the mental health of their children.”
Elliot said that many children were exhibiting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and had observed children suffering nightmares, flashbacks, bed-wetting developed stuttering. Elliot said many children were exhibiting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and had observed children suffering nightmares, flashbacks, bed-wetting and children who had developed stuttering.
In December 2013 Guardian Australia reported the contents of a 92-page letter of concern written by 15 doctors practising on Christmas Island that highlighted widespread failings in the medical provisions offered to asylum seekers.In December 2013 Guardian Australia reported the contents of a 92-page letter of concern written by 15 doctors practising on Christmas Island that highlighted widespread failings in the medical provisions offered to asylum seekers.
It was also revealed that nearly all pregnant women transferred to offshore detention on Nauru are suffering severe depression. Legal firm Maurice Blackburn says the government has blocked a visit to Christmas Island by a paediatrician serving as a potential expert witness in litigation being brought by the firm for a number of asylum seekers.
Professor Triggs said that families and children were “plagued by despair and helplessness at the seemingly endless period of detention. While I am encouraged that the Department intends to set up a school for children, for the past year, children have had no education or structured physical activity.” Guardian Australia has seen correspondence showing the visit was approved by the immigration department.
“We have a doctor who has taken time out of a busy schedule, who is a potential witness in a legal case, waiting on Christmas Island. She is now simply waiting for the next flight off the island. We urge the government to honour its promise and allow this doctor access to babies and children,” lawyer Jacob Varghese said.
A professor at Macquarie University and another at Curtin University have also published a statement signed by more than 500 academics at universities in the EU, America, Asia, and Australia condemning the Abbott government’s policies on asylum seekers.
“We find the political show of contempt for the moral profoundly disturbing in the context of increasing self-harm by refugees, including children, in Australia’s detention centres, attempts at suicide by refugee mothers in despair at the plight of their children and other traumatic incidents,” the academics write.
It was also revealed that nearly all pregnant women transferred to offshore detention on Nauru were suffering severe depression.
The immigration minister has not responded to a request for comment.