23rd February 2012 DASSAN PRESS RELEASE:
Another Day, Another Suicide Attempt in a Darwin Detention Centre
The Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network has been informed that an Iranian man attempted suicide today at the Northern Immigration Detention Centre (NIDC). The man has been detained in the infamous North 2 punishment compound for two weeks. After self harming during the day, the man climbed onto the roof of North 2 made a noose out of a sheet and was stopped just before jumping from the roof.
The man has been on a number of hunger strikes in detention and has asked to be removed from Australia as a result of the effects of detention on his mental health. A number of men inside the North 2 punishment compound have been detained in there for six months.
DASSAN spokesperson, Fernanda Dalstrom stated "the latest suicide attempt in a Darwin detention centre highlights the effects of mandatory detention on asylum seekers. The North 2 compound on NIDC is a living hell for those inside and an urgent review needs to be undertaken in relation to its use by the private corporation that operates NIDC - Serco. The compound has seen a large number of suicide attempts and self harm incidents over recent months."
"Today Amnesty International described NIDC as not being appropriate for detaining asylumseekers. This latest suicide attempt is further proof of that. If the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship does not act soon to close NIDC there will be a death inside there."
DASSAN has been informed the man is being provided with medical treatment.
For media comment - Fernanda Dalstrom, DASSAN: 0415 184 856.
The man has been on a number of hunger strikes in detention and has asked to be removed from Australia as a result of the effects of detention on his mental health. A number of men inside the North 2 punishment compound have been detained in there for six months.
DASSAN spokesperson, Fernanda Dalstrom stated "the latest suicide attempt in a Darwin detention centre highlights the effects of mandatory detention on asylum seekers. The North 2 compound on NIDC is a living hell for those inside and an urgent review needs to be undertaken in relation to its use by the private corporation that operates NIDC - Serco. The compound has seen a large number of suicide attempts and self harm incidents over recent months."
"Today Amnesty International described NIDC as not being appropriate for detaining asylumseekers. This latest suicide attempt is further proof of that. If the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship does not act soon to close NIDC there will be a death inside there."
DASSAN has been informed the man is being provided with medical treatment.
For media comment - Fernanda Dalstrom, DASSAN: 0415 184 856.
9th February 2012 DASSAN PRESS RELEASE:
Children in detention referred to Child Protection Services due to risk of harm
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The Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network (DASSAN) yesterday referred the names of 27 Vietnamese unaccompanied minors who are being detained at the Darwin Airport Lodge (DAL) to the Northern Territory Child Protection Services. Northern Territory law obliges people to alert the child protection services if they believe that a child has or is likely to suffer harm or exploitation. Harm is defined in the relevant legislation to include psychological or emotional harm.
The children, the youngest of whom is seven years old, have been locked up in immigration detention since May 2011 and were moved to the DAL earlier this week from Port Augusta in South Australia. Darwin detention centres have seen countless numbers of suicide attempts and self harm incidents in the past 12 months. DASSAN is aware of children in the DAL that have self harmed and are on medication as a result of their incarceration.
DASSAN spokesperson Rohan Thwaites stated, “The Government has been told by countless mental health professionals about the harmful affects of locking up children in immigration detention, yet they continue to do it. These children are at risk of psychological or emotional harm as a result of being detained and they should be removed from the source of the harm, detention centres”
Mr Thwaites stated, “Mr Bowen should be removed as the guardian of these children and they should be immediately transferred to the community where they will be able to receive the support and services that they require free from the trauma of detention centres.”
Mr Thwaites added, “In October 2011 the Government said it would remove most children from detention, acknowledging that incarceration harms their mental health and development, and yet here we are in February 2012 and there are approximately 170 children detained in Darwin alone. The Government must pledge to remove all children from detention and then stick to that pledge.”
For media comment, Rohan Thwaites DASSAN: 0402 555 841
The Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network (DASSAN) yesterday referred the names of 27 Vietnamese unaccompanied minors who are being detained at the Darwin Airport Lodge (DAL) to the Northern Territory Child Protection Services. Northern Territory law obliges people to alert the child protection services if they believe that a child has or is likely to suffer harm or exploitation. Harm is defined in the relevant legislation to include psychological or emotional harm.
The children, the youngest of whom is seven years old, have been locked up in immigration detention since May 2011 and were moved to the DAL earlier this week from Port Augusta in South Australia. Darwin detention centres have seen countless numbers of suicide attempts and self harm incidents in the past 12 months. DASSAN is aware of children in the DAL that have self harmed and are on medication as a result of their incarceration.
DASSAN spokesperson Rohan Thwaites stated, “The Government has been told by countless mental health professionals about the harmful affects of locking up children in immigration detention, yet they continue to do it. These children are at risk of psychological or emotional harm as a result of being detained and they should be removed from the source of the harm, detention centres”
Mr Thwaites stated, “Mr Bowen should be removed as the guardian of these children and they should be immediately transferred to the community where they will be able to receive the support and services that they require free from the trauma of detention centres.”
Mr Thwaites added, “In October 2011 the Government said it would remove most children from detention, acknowledging that incarceration harms their mental health and development, and yet here we are in February 2012 and there are approximately 170 children detained in Darwin alone. The Government must pledge to remove all children from detention and then stick to that pledge.”
For media comment, Rohan Thwaites DASSAN: 0402 555 841
29/1/2012 Serco hush-up attempt a scandal, says DASSAN
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Serco’s application in current court proceedings for a Suppression Order preventing the publication of its Use of Force Manual is scandalous, says Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network (DASSAN) spokesperson Fernanda Dahlstrom. The document sets out how much force Serco staff can use against those detained in the nations privatised immigration detention centres, the circumstances that Serco staff can use force and when the use of force is unlawful.
Ms Dahlstrom said “It is outrageous that a company such as Serco which is performing a public function considers the rules which apply to its staff to be something the public does not have a right to know about. Clearly Serco wants to cover its operations in Australian detention centres in a veil of secrecy”.
2011 saw a large number of incidents in Darwin detention centres involving poorly trained Serco staff being involved in violent incidents with asylum seekers. The circumstances of these incidents are not made public by either Serco or the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
“Serco is doing work that has been delegated to it by the federal government. The Australian public has a right to know what Serco staff are and are not allowed to do to people in detention. People in detention also have a right to know if their treatment is lawful or not.”
For comment: Fernanda Dahlstrom (DASSAN) 0415184856
Serco’s application in current court proceedings for a Suppression Order preventing the publication of its Use of Force Manual is scandalous, says Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network (DASSAN) spokesperson Fernanda Dahlstrom. The document sets out how much force Serco staff can use against those detained in the nations privatised immigration detention centres, the circumstances that Serco staff can use force and when the use of force is unlawful.
Ms Dahlstrom said “It is outrageous that a company such as Serco which is performing a public function considers the rules which apply to its staff to be something the public does not have a right to know about. Clearly Serco wants to cover its operations in Australian detention centres in a veil of secrecy”.
2011 saw a large number of incidents in Darwin detention centres involving poorly trained Serco staff being involved in violent incidents with asylum seekers. The circumstances of these incidents are not made public by either Serco or the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
“Serco is doing work that has been delegated to it by the federal government. The Australian public has a right to know what Serco staff are and are not allowed to do to people in detention. People in detention also have a right to know if their treatment is lawful or not.”
For comment: Fernanda Dahlstrom (DASSAN) 0415184856
29/9/11 Cruel Policies behind detention centre Chaos
Press Release 3 / 8/ 11 - More Children Locked Up in Darwin Detention Centres
Press Release 3 / 8/ 11 - More Children Locked Up in Darwin Detention Centres
