Australia Criticized for Youth Justice Violations and Human Rights Failures

Human Rights Watch's latest report condemns Australia's treatment of young offenders and asylum seekers, highlighting worsening conditions and international law breaches.

• Human Rights Watch's 2025 World Report highlights Australia's declining respect for children's rights, particularly in youth justice systems in Queensland and Western Australia.
• Children as young as 10 are being detained, often in adult facilities, with conditions including solitary confinement and overcrowding, raising significant human rights concerns.
• Indigenous children are disproportionately affected, comprising over half of the youth detention population, reflecting systemic inequalities and ongoing trauma.
• The Queensland government recently passed harsher youth crime laws, acknowledging their inconsistency with international and state human rights standards.
• Australia's lack of a national Human Rights Act and its continued offshore detention of asylum seekers, including children, were also criticized as violations of international obligations.

4 Articles

The Sydney Morning Herald SBS News The Guardian Human Rights Watch