Australia: Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children i

[Nicole 1,809]

 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/12/dylan-voller-says-he-felt-defenceless-panicked-restraint-chair-don-dale-northern-territory?CMP=fb_gu

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/07/dylan-voller-fears-reprisals-if-he-gives-royal-commission-evidence-from-prison-mother

A few months ago, Four Corners aired a segment on the Don Dale Detention Centre that outed the treatment of young people in their facilities, many of whom are Indigenous. The above photo made international headlines. No, it wasn't a photo of the treatment of prisoners in third world countries, it's not Guantanamo Bay, it's Dylan Voller - an Australian Indigenous boy, restrained by the neck, ankles and wrists with his face covered. Left alone for hours. International outrage (and national outrage) saw a Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory be announced within 72 hours, and hearings for its investigation are taking place right now. I'm creating this topic because the international pressure needs to remain. International awareness of Australia's torture of Aboriginal children needs to remain and everyone needs to demand that it be stopped - everywhere. 

For those who haven't seen the Four Corners episode (I recommend watching it, it's truly disturbing but it's remarkable in exposing what is happening here) showed that Dylan Voller and other detainees were teargassed for up to eight minutes for no justified reason before being taken from their cells, forced to lie on the concrete outside while handcuffed to be hosed down. 

Dylan Voller risked his own safety today and took to the stand to testify. He shared his own experiences of the detention system - hearing he would "be beaten up or killed during another incident when guards covered up the camera before entering his cell and threatening to break his arm". He shared that himself and other detainees were made to pay 'rent' to guards and forced to defecate into pillow cases when they were refused the toilet at night time. He was repeatedly strip searched for no justified reasons, and often forced to urinate through the cell bars. On one instance, he was forced to undergo a 2 day, 1500km journey to another facility in the back of a police vehicle with no air conditioning (I bring this up specifically because the area of Australia this took place in is extremely hot and there has been another case of a man literally burning to death in the back of a police van under the same circumstances - transfers between facilities and being refused water and no one in the back of the van with him)

“As a victim and a young man I feel upset and let down by the Justice System that these bad things were allowed to go on for so long. I just really wanted to see things change so this never happens to anyone else again and I believe this Royal Commission will make sure of that. Young people need love and someone to talk to not be locked in a cell with nothing for days on end. Trust me." 

After his testimony, Voller will be returning to the guards that he is testifying against. He has literally risked his safety in order to testify with other detainees and hopefully bring justice to those who have been victimised and hopefully see a change in how detention centers/youth crime is addressed in Australia particularly among our Indigenous people.

I know Australia is particularly isolated in comparison to the rest of the world, and I know that other countries have their own **** going on, but please keep up the international awareness of this issue. Bring it up in class where relevant, encourage discussion where possible, watch the Four Corners segment, share it with friends/peers. This country has never been great. It's getting worse. People are justifying their treatment, and it's disgusting. 

Check out the #NTRC tag on twitter for more updates about the Royal Commission, or search "Dylan Voller" to read more about his testimony, which was livestreamed.

Link to Four Corners Episode: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2016/07/25/4504895.htm 

#handsoffaboriginalkids 

#ShutDownDonDale

[lego 44,165]

This is so disturbing. It reminds me of those Guantanamo torture photos.  

 

[Katsuki Bakugo 9,788]

I am so ashamed of my government.

[Morphine Prince 109,656]

Disturbing.