Dear diary,
(image taken from the internet)
Today, I want to talk about children in detention. Children who are not placed in jails or juvenile homes, but detention centres because of immigration violations. They have not committed a crime. They didn't do anything bad. Almost always the children are refugees who are fleeing their country because of war or famine or just discrimination and genocide. They usually come with their family but sometimes, they come alone.
We call them unaccompanied minors.
(image from the internet)
Children don't belong in detention.
In Malaysia, we have 1888 children in detention. Half the numbers are below 12 years old. usually with their families. Among the 50% who are 13 years old and above, half are unaccompanied minors. About 400 boys and girls. These numbers vary over the months.
Some are released by Immigration to UNHCR if the children are registered UNHCR refugees but some haven't had the opportunity or haven't seeked asylum yet.
A group of us have formed a task force, working to get the government to agree to find alternatives to detention.
We've been working on this for 5 years.
It gets tiring and hard after 5 years.
There's constant lobbying and writing and researching ...and talking.
We're asking the government if we can start a pilot project of 5 unaccompanied minors ( the most vulnerable of children in detention) whom we can get released to the NGO's and their communities while we seek their families back home or within their community here, go to school or find a job or both.
(image taken from the internet)
It isn't hard to believe that all children deserve a right to grow up safe, healthily and happy. Not behind bars and fences and guards.
Refugees flee their countries because of war and conflict.
They flee to save their lives.
I simply cannot understand why we cannot collectively help and protect children. Here or abroad.
Why can't we make room for children to grow up to be productive citizens here or in another country.
How is this a fault of the children?
There was a huge discussion amongst child activists yesterday, racking their brains and resources to come up with durable solutions for these children.
Lobbying? Volunteers, a better foster care, centre, political will.
All I know is, nothing good comes from keeping children in detention.
I'd love your thoughts....