ACTIVISTS and migrant groups have lauded the government’s proposal to move children in immigration detention centres to external shelters.

They, however, said the proposal must also include the parents as separating the children from their parents would cause more trauma for those who would need immediate psychological support.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yesterday said Putrajaya was in the final stages of drafting a cabinet paper on follow-up proposals to move children in immigration detention centres to external shelters.

He also urged stakeholders to assist the government in upholding children’s rights.

This, he said, was to expedite the release of children from 19 centres nationwide.

North South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira agreed that stakeholders be consulted and hoped the government could come up with clear instructions on the societal solutions to care for the children.

He said the move (to move children out of detention centres) is long overdue as the conditions in immigration centres are traumatic and abusive.

“No child should be in the detention centres. It is traumatic and abusive. They should be placed in a more safe environment, but at the same time, parents should be with their children,” Pereira said.

“The government should have a plan, an alternative to detention.

“Children have the right to live with their parents. The Home Ministry and the relevant stakeholders must come up with a comprehensive solution to this.”

Currently, there are 1,030 children – 579 boys and 451 girls – in 20 immigration centres.

Of the total, 351 of them are in the detention centres with their guardians.

Saifuddin also said the ministry always strives to look after the welfare of children who are in immigration detention centres by ensuring they have access to education and health, as well as be given appropriate treatment should they fall sick.

Anderson Selvasegaram of Suka Society mirrored Pereira’s view, saying the living condition at the immigration centres has a negative impact on the children.

He said other than children with guardianship, Putrajaya must also focus on children without parents in the centres.

“It is right that no children should be separated from their parents, but how about those without parents? They should be staying or living under proper care,” Selvasegaram said.

‘Children must get psychosocial support’

Meanwhile, Heidy Quah, the founder of Refuge for the Refugees, said keeping children in detention centres goes against the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

She lauded the proposal, saying it should have been done years ago.

She said the move is vital for the psychological health of those children.

“While this should have been done years ago, I believe that it’s better now than never, and there is an urgency to work on this. The longer we wait, the more harm we cause,” Quah said.

“Detaining children in immigration centres is inconsistent with UN obligations, which Malaysia is a signatory to, and violates their rights.

“As we already know, being locked up in detention centres can be an extremely traumatic experience, especially for children.

“This is because detention centres often lack access to adequate education, healthcare and recreational activities, which can hinder a child’s development.”

She said the first thing that needs to be done after moving a child to an alternative shelter is ensuring that they have psychosocial support.

“A child’s developmental years are crucial, and spending an extended period of time in detention centres can often be extremely traumatic for many kids,” she said.

Quah said apart from psychosocial support, these children must be given access to education.

“They need access to education, healthcare and recreational and developmental programmes beyond the classroom that allow them to play, explore and interact with other kids,” she said.

On providing support, she said Refuge for the Refugees is more than ready to assist the government. “Whether it is setting up a shelter to support this safe placement programme or helping with running programmes and bringing in volunteers, teachers, healthcare workers and mental health professionals.

“Or even supplying the shelter with groceries to help with the cost of meals… we are more than ready to step in where we can to support the government with this step forward,” she said.

In 2020, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Putrajaya to release all children held in immigration detention centres, citing concerns over their well-being.

It also said the government must allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees access to the centres.

As of October 26 last year, HRW said 756 children, nearly half of whom from Myanmar, were being detained in centres nationwide without their parents or guardians.

Children under detention were exposed to health risks, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and suicidal thoughts, the Bangkok-based group said. – April 16, 2023.