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Canberra Today 17°/21° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Bimberi inmates get charter of rights

BIMBERI inmates now have a new charter of rights, developed in consultation with the ACT Children and Young People Commissioner, the Human Rights Commission, detainees and those who provide services to the youth justice centre.

 In announcing the Charter of Rights for Young People in Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, Children and Youth Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith  said the charter would serve to increase awareness of young people’s rights and responsibilities among inmates and by staff and service providers. 

Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith.
“There are 12 rights protected under the charter, including the right to be treated equally with respect and dignity and the right to engage in education and training,” the Minister said. 

“Importantly, the charter makes clear that young people in detention have special rights related to their need for protection, rehabilitation and support, in addition to the basic needs shared by all people.

“The charter also sets out responsibilities for young people in detention, acknowledging a shared responsibility to respect and uphold the rights of other young people and staff at Bimberi.

“The charter demonstrates the ACT Government’s commitment to ensuring Bimberi operates within a human rights framework. The charter is one element of this framework, which also includes oversight by the Human Rights Commission, Official Visitors and the Public Advocate.”

She said copies of the charter were being provided to detainees and displayed throughout the centre from today. Education for young people to understand their rights and responsibilities would be provided by the Murrumbidgee Education and Training Centre at Bimberi. Bimberi staff would receive training on the charter through daily briefings and whole-of-centre staff meetings.

Caroline Le-Couteur.
THE ACT Greens have welcomed the charter. MLA Caroline LeCouteur  said the party had advocated extensively on this issue, believing that a new approach was necessary to ensure the rights of children and young people in detention in the ACT.

“We know that a young person’s time in detention will have consequences not only for their time during detention, but for years to come — impacting their lives, and the lives of their families and community,” Ms Le Couteur said.

“By ensuring that young people are aware of their rights and responsibilities while in detention, we’re helping young people to move forward with their lives, and interact with others from a shared understanding of their mutual rights and responsibilities.

“When it comes to protecting the rights of children, we cannot afford any further delay, particularly given the apparent erosion of cultural practice in the Bimberi Youth Facility among some staff more recently,” Ms Le Couteur said.

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