7 Children’s Rights to Protection from Harm
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Ursula Kilkelly
Abstract
Chapter 6 considered the extent to which Oberstown Children Detention Campus has implemented the rights-based model of detention. While noting the progress made in the advancement of children’s rights to child-centred care, provision of need and preparation for leaving, the chapter concluded by noting the potentially transformative effects of fulfilling children’s rights under the themes of participation and partnership.
This chapter notes that protection rights are fundamental to children’s rights in detention in two ways. First, they relate to children’s need for protection with respect to trauma or injury experienced prior to coming to Oberstown. Second, they concern children’s right to protection from harm while in detention, including measures taken to protect themselves or others from injury. In exploring this important and challenging area, this chapter pays particular attention to restrictive practices such as separation and restraint, which have, as Chapter 2 noted, continued to threaten children’s protection rights around the world. In this context, this chapter identifies the measures taken to improve children’s rights to protection in Oberstown, highlighting some of the steps that have helped the transition towards a more rights-compliant approach.
Every child in detention has a right to be protected from harm and ill-treatment – under Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – and in light of the fact that children can be ‘highly vulnerable’, especially during the initial period of detention (European Rule 109), states are required to take measures to ‘protect their physical and mental integrity and foster their well-being’ (European Rule 52.1).
Abstract
Chapter 6 considered the extent to which Oberstown Children Detention Campus has implemented the rights-based model of detention. While noting the progress made in the advancement of children’s rights to child-centred care, provision of need and preparation for leaving, the chapter concluded by noting the potentially transformative effects of fulfilling children’s rights under the themes of participation and partnership.
This chapter notes that protection rights are fundamental to children’s rights in detention in two ways. First, they relate to children’s need for protection with respect to trauma or injury experienced prior to coming to Oberstown. Second, they concern children’s right to protection from harm while in detention, including measures taken to protect themselves or others from injury. In exploring this important and challenging area, this chapter pays particular attention to restrictive practices such as separation and restraint, which have, as Chapter 2 noted, continued to threaten children’s protection rights around the world. In this context, this chapter identifies the measures taken to improve children’s rights to protection in Oberstown, highlighting some of the steps that have helped the transition towards a more rights-compliant approach.
Every child in detention has a right to be protected from harm and ill-treatment – under Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – and in light of the fact that children can be ‘highly vulnerable’, especially during the initial period of detention (European Rule 109), states are required to take measures to ‘protect their physical and mental integrity and foster their well-being’ (European Rule 52.1).
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Cases and Instruments iv
- List of Figures vi
- About the Authors vii
- Acknowledgements viii
- Foreword ix
- Introduction 1
- Children’s Rights in Detention 5
- An International Perspective 20
- Irish Youth Justice Law and Policy 35
- Introducing Child Detention in Ireland 50
- Oberstown and the Process of Change 68
- Implementing Children’s Rights in Detention 87
- Children’s Rights to Protection from Harm 105
- Staff Wellbeing and Communication 122
- International and National Influences and Advocacy 139
- Reflections: Enablers and Barriers to Reform 155
- Afterword 177
- References 180
- Index 203
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Cases and Instruments iv
- List of Figures vi
- About the Authors vii
- Acknowledgements viii
- Foreword ix
- Introduction 1
- Children’s Rights in Detention 5
- An International Perspective 20
- Irish Youth Justice Law and Policy 35
- Introducing Child Detention in Ireland 50
- Oberstown and the Process of Change 68
- Implementing Children’s Rights in Detention 87
- Children’s Rights to Protection from Harm 105
- Staff Wellbeing and Communication 122
- International and National Influences and Advocacy 139
- Reflections: Enablers and Barriers to Reform 155
- Afterword 177
- References 180
- Index 203
