Christmas Island - where Australia detains immigrant children

Christmas Island is marketed as an exotic holiday location, where you can watch the extraordinary red crab migration, enjoy scuba diving, nature walks, fishing and beautiful beaches. What the average tourist is not aware of is the large immigration detention centre on the island. In fact, there are five compounds on the island, one of which is primarily  used for unaccompanied minors, others house families and the more secure for adult males.

There has been recent outcry in Australia regarding the conditions that children, in particular, are held under. At the end of July 2014,the Australia Human Rights Commission reported  that nearly all the 174 children held on Christmas Island were sick, depressed, self-harming, having nightmares, bedwetting and wandering aimlessly behind barbed wire. Evidence submitted by Dr Peter Young(former medical director for mental health at IHMS) to the government enquiry ,brought shocked reactions as he described the detention environment as "inherently toxic" and "akin to torture". Medical care was inadequate with no fulltime child psychiatrist in attendance. There were few toys and no books and poor educational provision.

Immigrant mothers of infants born on Australian soil have been moved to Christmas Island, often in the middle of the night, while lengthy legal processes determine the right or otherwise of the newborn to naturalisation. A number of these young women have threatened suicide because of the intolerable conditions in which they and their babies are held. In July of this year, it is reported that 14 young women were on 24hr suicide watch and assessment of a number of them determined that they were seriously depressed. One was removed to Perth for urgent treatment , and returned to the detention centre  against the advice of mental health professionals.

It is even more shocking to hear that the greatest percentage of self-harm and suicidal behaviour was exhibited by the children in detention. There were 128 reported self-harm incidents amongst children between January 2013 and March 2014.These were children housed on Christmas Island, the mainland and Nauru Island. This was evidence provided by Professor Gillian Trigg during the day of public hearings in Melbourne on July1st this year.

Churches in Australia have come together in an unprecedented protest against the Immigration Departments policies and record in handling immigrant children. On May 19th, the largest ever Christian civil disobedience action in Australia took place, resulting in 21 arrests, including a Catholic priest and several pastors. More arrests have followed as the 'Love makes a Way' movement grows in strength.

The potential long term damage to these families and children is immense .You can show your support by following the 'Love makes a Way' movement on Facebook.

 Spare a thought for these unfortunate individuals before you book your holiday in the sun to Christmas Island. Or better still, find somewhere else for your vacation.