violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

“Ninety percent of the kids that go in, come out worse than when they went in.”Young person, North America, 2004 VGirls in detentionare small, and as a result they are simply tacked onto the rest of the system with littlerecognition that their needs are different and separate from older women. It also meansthat they attract fewer resources…” 115Girls in detention facilities are at particular risk of physical and sexual abuse, particularlywhen detained in mixed-sex facilities, or where a general lack of facilities forgirls results in placement in adult facilities. An additional concern is the lack of femalestaff in facilities detaining girls. Male staff often engage in ‘sanctioned sexual harassment,’including improper touching during searches, or watching girls while they dress,shower, or use the toilet. 116 Male staff also use their positions of authority to demandsexual favours, and are responsible for sexual assault and rape.196Violence against Children in care and justice institutionsmarried someone from another religion orwithout the consent of their guardians. 109 Similarly,in India and Nepal, trafficking survivorsand girls found in brothels are often forced bythe police and NGOs into ‘protective custody’in secure institutions. 110Mental health is also an issue of concern inthe incarceration of children. Studies in theUK indicate that between 46% and 81% ofyoung prisoners (aged between 15–21 years)have mental health problems. 111 Other researchclaims that about 80% of children in custodysuffer from at least two mental disorders. 112Quite apart from the fact that such childrenshould be receiving treatment and not punishment,staff in correctional institutions areoften not trained to deal with children who arementally ill or who have emotional problems.In detention centres, for example, it has beenreported that staff have responded to suicidalchildren by stripping them naked and tyingtheir wrists and ankles to bare beds. 113Sources of violence indetention and police custodyChildren deprived of their liberty and placedin detention are at extreme risk of violence. Asin residential care, violence against children indetention often comes from staff or peers. Inaddition, children may be subject to violencefrom adult detainees, from police or securityforces while in their custody, or may receive violentsentences as a judgment from the courts.Violence by staff in detentioninstitutionsChildren in detention are frequently subjectedto violence by the staff, as a form of control orpunishment, and often for minor infractions.Although 124 countries have fully prohibitedcorporal punishment in penal institutions, inat least 78 countries it remains legal as a disciplinarymeasure in these institutions. 117 Inthe Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 30% ofdetained children reported physical or mental