The Forgotten Children in Australian Detention Centres before 2005

Abstract

ACCORDING TO ARCHBISHOP Desmond M. Tutu it is the politicians who ultimately offer what people want, especially where children's rights are respected and protected. Articles 28 and 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognise the rights of children to education. Many people residing in Australia, and abroad, assume that all young Australian children's rights are respected and protected. However, there has been one identified group of young children, residing in Australia, whose rights have not been respected and protected. These young children were held in Australian detention centres. It was only after public pressure in July 2005 that all children and families were released from Australian detention centres. This paper focuses mainly on the lack of educational provisions for this identified population.