AMA Forum: The Health Care of Asylum Seekers and the Harms caused by Immigration Detention, especially for Children | Australian Medical Association

21.2.16

AMA Forum: The Health Care of Asylum Seekers and the Harms caused by Immigration Detention, especially for Children | Australian Medical Association: The current Government’s policy, supported by the Federal Opposition, poses significant risks to the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers, especially children. As an organisation representing medical practitioners, we are compelled to advocate for an urgent change in policy.

All asylum seekers and refugees, independent of their citizenship or visa status, should have universal access to basic health care. This is clearly not happening.

All children being held in immigration detention facilities should be immediately released to a safe environment. This is a matter of human decency and human rights. Regardless of the High Court decision, there is absolutely no reason why children should continue to be held in detention facilities.

Children in detention are being harmed. Detention has long-term consequences on their psychological, physical, and emotional health. This is morally and ethically unacceptable. Infants and children must be removed from immigration detention.