Afterword
-
Ursula Kilkelly
Abstract
It is an African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child – a community must share its resources, its knowledge and its wisdom if the potential of the child is to be fulfilled. The same is true of Oberstown in that it took a myriad of influences and influencers over many, many years, to create, shape and implement the vision of rights-based detention for children in Ireland. This book demonstrates that it is possible to put in place a model of child-centred care for children deprived of liberty by explaining the measures, actions and steps required to make it happen. However, we are not naïve enough to think that the Oberstown ‘job’ is done. It will take many more years of hard work and commitment before the change we document here is embedded and the potential of the rights-based approach fulfilled. Nor do we suggest in documenting Ireland’s experience, that this is a case study capable of being replicated anywhere. There are simply too many variables to do justice to a comparative analysis, but we do want to conclude this book with a reflection on where else this could happen. In what circumstances could such a project be a success?
Although it is difficult to say with certainty, we consider the following factors to be important. First, we know that the most important starting point is a political commitment to children’s rights, to high standards, to wanting something better than prison-like conditions for children. Building consensus around rights-based detention is difficult without a strong, informed civil society, a respect for international instruments, which reflect consensus on these issues, and the work of international organizations that can be leveraged for reform at a national level.
Abstract
It is an African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child – a community must share its resources, its knowledge and its wisdom if the potential of the child is to be fulfilled. The same is true of Oberstown in that it took a myriad of influences and influencers over many, many years, to create, shape and implement the vision of rights-based detention for children in Ireland. This book demonstrates that it is possible to put in place a model of child-centred care for children deprived of liberty by explaining the measures, actions and steps required to make it happen. However, we are not naïve enough to think that the Oberstown ‘job’ is done. It will take many more years of hard work and commitment before the change we document here is embedded and the potential of the rights-based approach fulfilled. Nor do we suggest in documenting Ireland’s experience, that this is a case study capable of being replicated anywhere. There are simply too many variables to do justice to a comparative analysis, but we do want to conclude this book with a reflection on where else this could happen. In what circumstances could such a project be a success?
Although it is difficult to say with certainty, we consider the following factors to be important. First, we know that the most important starting point is a political commitment to children’s rights, to high standards, to wanting something better than prison-like conditions for children. Building consensus around rights-based detention is difficult without a strong, informed civil society, a respect for international instruments, which reflect consensus on these issues, and the work of international organizations that can be leveraged for reform at a national level.
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
