At the beginning of 2015, a young boy, then aged approximately 9 years old, was
sexually abused in an Australian on-shore detention centre. Following this
incident, the family (a father and two sons) were moved to another state. The
two sons were placed in care. The father was placed in closed detention. The
family was extremely upset at being separated during this very difficult time.
There are no allegations of abuse against the father or detention centre staff.
The perpetrator of the sexual abuse was found guilty in a court.
Last week, the father was informed that his other son, then aged approximately 7
years old, recently reported that he too was abused. The son says this occurred
at the same time as his older brother was abused.
The father remains in detention after approximately 5 years. The sons, now aged
approximately 11 and 9, remain in state care. They wish to be reunited.
The Government established Immigration Assessment Authority (IAA) has
remitted a Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) decision
for reconsideration by the DIBP, with the direction that “there are substantial
grounds for believing that, as a necessary and foreseeable consequence of the
referred applicants being removed from Australia to a receiving country, there is
a real risk that each of the referred applicants will suffer significant harm.” Ie,
this family should be recognised as refugees.
In light of the most recent allegation of sexual abuse and the IAA direction we
requested the DIBP and the Minister of Immigration and Border Protection,
Minister Dutton, to release the father as soon as possible. No response has been
received.
W: www.humanrightsforall.com.au
Alison Battisson, Director, Principal Human Rights for All Pty Ltd
