Criminalising and prosecuting torture could deter practices such as solitary confinement in detention

Fri, 1 Sep 2023 19:40:33 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/criminalising-and-prosecuting-torture-could-deter-practices-such-as-solitary-confinement-in-detention-206665>

"According to the most recent statistics from 2020–21, 640 children and 42,090
adults were detained each day across Australia. Of those, 337 children and
12,599 adults were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Some people in Australian prisons and police stations are being subjected to
treatment that could amount to torture. This includes prolonged solitary
confinement and the use of spit hoods. Last year, the UN Committee Against
Torture recommended Australia end the use of spit hoods and prohibit solitary
confinement of children.

Torture has been criminalised in Commonwealth legislation, but not at the state
and territory level (with some exceptions). This is despite a recommendation
from the UN Committee Against Torture.

While progress on criminalising torture across states and territories has
stagnated, attorneys-general around the country have so far only agreed to look
into the “feasability” of a national ban on spit hoods.

Prohibiting the solitary confinement of children in detention centres is
proving to be an even slower process."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

Comment via email

Home E-Mail Sponsors Index Search About Us