Australia’s immigration detention centres should be subject to independent monitoring to stop the abuse of asylum seekers, the country’s leading health agencies say.
Eighteen peak health bodies have called on the Turnbull Government to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), citing concerns over secrecy.
OPCAT came into force globally in 2006, establishing a system of regular visits to places such as immigration detention centres, prisons and similar facilities.
Australia became a signatory to the OPCAT in 2009.
In the statement issued on Friday, health agencies — including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners — said urgent action was needed to prevent the torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of asylum seekers under Australia’s care.
“We are concerned that current systems for transparency and accountability in places of detention are inadequate and must be urgently strengthened,” it read.
“The lack of consistent and comprehensive monitoring has contributed to ongoing incidents of mistreatment and human rights abuses in places of detention.”
It also highlighted the gaps in the current monitoring system, as noted by “a succession of parliamentary inquiries, royal commissions, coronial inquests, and reviews from international bodies”.
“The Government must act now and ratify the OPCAT to prevent further instances of harm and abuse,” it read.
“Under the OPCAT, domestic monitoring bodies must be established that are fully independent, sufficiently resourced, equipped with the requisite expertise, and unrestricted in their ability to regularly access places of detention and all relevant information.”
The statement comes less than a week after the Opposition tabled legislation to enforce mandatory reporting of child abuse in all immigration detention facilities.
Shadow immigration minister Richard Marles tabled the private members bill, which, if adopted, would make it an offence for a worker to fail to report an assault.
The statement also follows a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, sent by a group of mental health agencies, citing concerns for detained children.
The letter, sent earlier this month, highlighted concerns for the mental health of asylum seeker children, with bodies such as Mental Health Australia and the Australian College of Nursing calling on Mr Turnbull to take action.
“Over 44 per cent of children in offshore detention required the attention of a mental health nurse in the October-December 2014 period,” it read.
“The conditions inside detention centres are likely to cause ongoing harm to individuals being detained.”