Our vision is to work with Indigenous communities to directly challenge the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in prison, by raising the age of criminal responsibility. We want to put an end to children falling into the quicksand of Australia’s prison system.
Despite overwhelming evidence from health experts, social workers, Indigenous leaders, legal experts and human rights organisations, Australian Governments are choosing to lock up children as young as 10 years old. This disproportionately impacts Indigenous youth.
When children this young are forced through a criminal legal process, their health, wellbeing and future are put at risk. Punitive approaches simply don’t work.
Governments should be funding tested Indigenous-led solutions and community programs which have better outcomes for children and communities.
The ACT is the first jurisdiction in Australia to make a commitment to bring its laws in line with UN standards by working to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14. Now it's time for the rest of the country to follow this leadership.
Together we can make this happen. Will you add your name to call on all governments across Australia to raise the age of criminal age of responsibility to at least 14?
For 60 years, Amnesty has been shining a light in the darkness to prevent abuses, ensure accountability and improve lives. As a 10 million strong movement of everyday people joining together to challenge injustice and defend human rights, our voices are powerful enough to create change. Together we are unstoppable.