Refugee and asylum-seeking Children: Australia’s obligations under International Law – Webinar Recording

In its Concluding Observations on Australia’s reports, the UN CRC Committee made a series of recommendations about the protection of refugee and asylum-seeker children. This webinar examined Australia’s obligations as a party to the CRC, and the need to address the detention of children, their mental health, discrimination, the provision of services, and support for civil society organisations working for the welfare of children.

Professor Mary Crock engaged with the shortcomings identified by the UN CRC Committee and the requirements for action by all levels of government, taking account of the essential child rights principle of the best interest of the child. Rasika Jayasuriya outlined issues of immigration detention and trafficking, both areas addressed in the Concluding Observations, from a global perspective at UNICEF. She touched on the ways other governments have ensured the rights of children of migrants and refugees, and comment on the UN Special Procedures statement on Australians detained in Syria.