NGOs urge Asia Pacific governments to end the immigration detention of children Regional meeting in Malaysia address concerns

about the growing use of immigration detention and the need for alternatives to detention in Asia Pacific. Kuala Lumpur, 25th November 2011. Fifty non-governments organization (NGOs) from 18 countries met on Thursday and Friday to address the growing problem of immigration detention in the Asia Pacific region. Increasingly countries are using immigration detention in the first instance to manage irregular migration, even where there are no valid security concerns. International research has found that immigration detention is damaging, costly and does not deter irregular migration. Alternatives to detention exist and proven to be cheaper, humane and effective. In South, South East and East Asia many individuals are detained for prolonged periods, in conditions below international standards, and denied the right to asylum procedures and to review their detention. International Detention Coalition (IDC) Director, Grant Mitchell, said, The detention environment has consistently been found to negatively impact on physical and mental health and increase the likelihood of ill-treatment, human rights abuses and refoulement. Particular concerns exist for refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable groups, such as children. To address this, many States have begun exploring and implementing alternatives to immigration detention, which have been found to be cheaper than detention and effective in ensuring compliance in the community. Alternatives to detention are more humane, effective and fulfill human rights and governments must start using them for vulnerable groups such as children, unaccompanied minors and families. In this region, Thailand and Japan have both released large number of refugee children from detention over the past year. In line with international standards, there should be a presumption against the use of immigration detention, which must be a last resort, reviewable, for the shortest possible period, independently monitored and with adequate safeguards and conditions. NGOs are calling on governments across Asia Pacific to use the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention to commit end the detention of children. Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) Coordinator, Anoop Sukumaran said, It

is absolutely crucial that Governments ensure that alternatives to immigration detention be explored and pursued in the first instance, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children. The workshop occurs two weeks before a high level ministerial meeting in Geneva to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention. The International Detention Coalition and the APRRN and its members call upon states to use this occasion to pledge to end the immigration detention of children by considering alternatives to immigration detention. Contact: Anoop Sukumaran +66 8910 35708; Grant Mitchell +61 403194665 Note to editors: The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network is comprised by over 100 civil society organizations and individuals committed to advancing the rights of refugees in the Asia Pacific region through information sharing, joint advocacy and capacity building. The Immigration Detention Working Group (IDWG) The Immigration Detention Working Group (IDWG) of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network consists of more than 50 organizations and individuals from 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region who aim to work together for the rights, dignity and well being of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in detention in the Asia Pacific Region. The International Detention Coalition (IDC) The IDC is an international coalition with a membership base of more than 200 nongovernmental organisations, faith-based groups, academics, practitioners and individuals working in 50 countries globally. Coalition members research, advocate and provide direct services to and on behalf of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants. The IDC advocates for greater respect for the human rights of detainees; this includes preventing and limiting the use of, seeking alternatives to, and using the least restrictive forms of, immigration detention. Interantional Detention Coalition C/O HUB Melbourne, Level 3, 673 Bourke Street Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia http://idcoalition.org/ Asia Pacific Refugee Rights (APRRN) 1203, 12th Floor, Times Square building, Bangkok, Thailand http://refugeerightsasiapacific.org/