An Indigenous human rights advocate has welcomed the National Children Commissioner’s report into the youth justice system.
Commissioner, Anne Holland released the Help Way Earlier report this week, which calls for governments to support 24 recommendations to improve the safety and wellbeing of young people interacting with the criminal justice system.
Curtin University’s Dr Hannah McGlade, said the system is failing young people.
“Children are being seriously impacted by the criminal justice system across Australia – even losing their lives now as a result of punitive, cruel, harsh treatment.
This report really highlights the children’s voices and the human rights issues facing them and it does provide a pathway forward so I think it’s very exciting and a very timely report.”
The recommendations include creating a national roadmap for reforming the system and appointing a federal cabinet minister to oversee the human rights and wellbeing of children across the country.
One of the recommendations is for Australian governments to prioritise investing in prevention and early intervention through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-controlled Organisations.
The report is calling to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14, and more support for Indigenous Data Sovereignty to improve accountability and transparency.
Here’s an excerpt of Dr McGlade’s speaking about the timeliness of the report.
