When children come into contact with the justice system, their inequality and trauma is exacerbated, their education and employment prospects are compromised, and the likelihood of them becoming entrenched in the system from childhood is markedly increased.
The Commissioner is calling for reforms to be made to South Australia’s child justice system to align it with a child rights-based approach. Such an approach would look beyond the current focus on policing, courts, and detention and instead would commit to addressing the unmet needs and underlying drivers of South Australian children’s involvement with the State’s child justice system.
Australia’s decision-makers and lawmakers have obligations to ensure all children can realise their rights as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Despite these obligations, current laws, policies and services, fail to consistently achieve this.
However, there are significant opportunities for the South Australian Government to reform the child justice and related systems in line with international human rights standards. These opportunities involve making changes to legislation, policy, services, and workforce development and culture:
- Strengthening the legislative framework to promote children’s rights and best interests.
- Developing a state-wide public health approach that includes prioritising prevention and early intervention.
- Promoting children’s right to be heard at both the individual and systemic levels.