At this moment, 107 children are being detained on Nauru, enduring shocking treatment and living under inhumane conditions.
An investigation called the Moss Review found that many asylum seekers, a large number of which are children have been physically and sexually assaulted during their time in detention.
“The extent of reported sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour by staff against asylum seekers is shocking and suggests that existing protections are ineffective or virtually non-existent,” said Graeme McGregor, Amnesty International Australia's Refugee Campaign Coordinator.
Unfortunately the reality is that the Australian government holds the attitude of indifference towards these children, as communicated clearly by the Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, whose response to reports of sexual abuse were “things happen.”
All we could hope for, for these children is that they be treated with basic human rights and be granted the freedom to grow up in a safe, secure and happy environment, just as anyone would hope for any other child.
Amnesty is calling for all children to be released from Nauru. With the hashtag #ShareAmemory, we urge you to share a fond childhood memory to show the government that you do not support children being in detention centres.
Childhood should be a time of learning, innocence and happiness. Let’s show the Australian government that it is not okay to put children in Detention centres.
