World Immigration News

Not just an afterthought: The experience of women in immigration detention (December 2024)

Release Date: 2024-12-11
Media: ReliefWeb
Summary: The Australian Human Rights Commission has released a report highlighting the mistreatment of women in immigration detention centers, calling for significant reforms to address their safety, rights, and well-being. The report, titled Not Just An Afterthought, reveals that women in detention are exposed to increased risks of harassment, violence, and health issues due to inadequate support, insufficient staff training, and a lack of gender-specific services.

The inspections of detention centers found that women were sometimes housed next to male offenders, leading to potential further trauma. Many staff lacked gender sensitivity, and there were inadequate provisions for women's accommodation, recreation, and mental health care.

The report makes 31 recommendations, including improving housing conditions, ensuring gender-specific staff training, and enhancing access to healthcare and meaningful activities. The Department of Home Affairs accepted or partially agreed with most recommendations but disagreed with some.

As of June 2024, 50 women were in immigration detention, making up less than 6% of the total detainee population. The Commission stresses that Australia's immigration detention system does not meet international human rights obligations, particularly for vulnerable women, and that urgent reform is needed to prioritize their safety and well-being.
Tags: AUSTRALIA

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