Politics · Australia · 7 hrs ago
Northern Territory blocks UN visit to youth detention centre
The Northern Territory government has blocked a UN visit to Holtze Youth Detention Centre in Darwin.
UN Special Rapporteur Albert Barume had planned to inspect Holtze and a youth detention centre in Queensland, but both governments refused access and meetings.
Almost all children in NT youth detention are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and children as young as 10 are held at Holtze.
The centre has faced scrutiny after reported incidents included self-harm requiring hospital care, sexual assaults, detainee assaults, escapes and extended lockdowns.
Human rights lawyers say independent scrutiny is urgently needed, while the NT government says its prisons already have oversight and accountability arrangements.
A UN inspection could assess conditions against human rights standards and inform public scrutiny of the facilities.
The federal government says each state and territory decides whether to allow a visit, so access to Holtze remains blocked.
The Northern Territory government has refused to let a United Nations representative inspect Holtze Youth Detention Centre in Darwin.
UN Special Rapporteur Albert Barume had planned to visit Holtze and Queensland’s Cleveland Youth Detention Centre during a visit to Australia this month.
The NT Department of Corrections said the visit was not being facilitated, citing existing independent oversight and accountability arrangements.
Human rights lawyers condemned the refusal and called for independent scrutiny of conditions at Holtze.
The ABC reported that incidents at Holtze in the 12 months after it opened included nine young people hospitalised for self-harm and two sexually assaulted.
- Who
- The Northern Territory government refused access to UN Special Rapporteur Albert Barume. He had planned to visit Holtze Youth Detention Centre.
- What
- The UN was blocked from inspecting the youth detention centre.
- When
- Barume planned the visit during a trip to Australia this month. He said late last week that access had been refused.
- Where
- Holtze Youth Detention Centre in Darwin, Northern Territory.
- Why
- The NT Department of Corrections cited existing independent oversight and accountability arrangements. The government’s full reasons are Not stated.
Northern Territory government
Human rights lawyers and advocates
Reason for refusing access
Northern Territory government
The Department of Corrections said NT prisons are subject to established independent oversight and accountability arrangements.
Human rights lawyers and advocates
They say a UN visit would provide necessary independent scrutiny of detention practices and conditions.
Whether scrutiny is needed
Northern Territory government
The government’s position, as reported by the Department, is that existing oversight arrangements are in place.
Human rights lawyers and advocates
They say concerns about abuse and treatment in custody make access urgent.
Holtze Youth Detention Centre opened.
United Nations inspectors were blocked from NT jails; their assessment of Australia’s treatment of prisoners was scathing.
The ABC reported incidents at Holtze during the 12 months after it opened.
Albert Barume planned to visit Holtze and Cleveland youth detention centres during a visit to Australia.
Barume said the NT and Queensland governments had refused to meet with him or allow access to the facilities.
- UN representative
- Albert Barume, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- NT facility
- Holtze Youth Detention Centre, Darwin
- Facility opening
- November 2024
- Hospitalisations
- Nine young people hospitalised for self-harm in the 12 months after Holtze opened
- Reported sexual assaults
- Two young people sexually assaulted in the same period
- Assaults between detainees
- 127 reported in the same period
What people are saying
It would be a scandal.
Why not open the doors and facilitate access if there is nothing to hide?
The international human rights system and independent scrutiny exists, because we don't take governments at their word.
Children as young as 10 are incarcerated [at Holtze],