Australia: Catholic Church urges government to free refugee children from prison island

Lost childhood on Nauru prison island

Source: Fides/ACSJC

More than 40 refugee children are being detained by the Australian government on the island of Nauru in inhumane conditions. The Catholic Church in Australia has given its full support to the 'Kids Off Nauru' campaign, promoted by World Vision Australia - ahead of the International Day of the Rights of the Child and Adolescent, promoted by the United Nations and scheduled for 20 November.

Nauru, an island of about 20 square kilometers located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, is home to a refugee camp where migrants and asylum seekers are transferred and detained in inhumane conditions in Australia after being rejected. World Vision reports that the refugee children on the island live in a state of despair and many of them attempt suicide to end their physical and psychological suffering.

To respond to this emergency, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, an organism of the Episcopal Conference, along with 60 other organisations, signed an inter-faith letter addressed to the Prime Minister and the opposition leader, underlining the seriousness of the situation and ask to transfer them to Australia by 20 November together with their families.

The children "were traumatized, torn from their homes and protagonists of dangerous journeys. We cannot be a nation that increases their trauma, which moves away or remains indifferent. Now is the time to bring these children and their families to safety in Australia," commented Mgr Vincent Long, president of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council.

Since 2013, the Australian Conservative Government has adopted the 'No Way' policy, based on the total rejection of migrants. The coasts are guarded by a massive deployment of naval units and those arriving by ship will never have the right to settle legally in the country guaranteed. Some migrants are transferred to their country of origin, while others obtain permits valid only for Papua New Guinea or the island of Nauru.