C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.29. Children are able to explore, nurture and maintain their interests, including through access to information, periodicals, publications, radio, television, and motion pictures.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.23. School-age children have access to education appropriate to their age, needs and abilities, including primary and, where possible, secondary education and, if necessary, special education.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.24. Education includes teaching the language of the country of origin and the local language or the lingua franca in the country of destination or asylum.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.25. School-age children are able to attend local schools and, as far as possible, participate in extra-curricular activities.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.26. Child detainees have access to vocational training and skills development programmes in occupations likely to prepare them for future employment, whether in their country of origin or country of destination or asylum.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.19. Where the age of a detainee is disputed or otherwise in issue, the detainee claiming to be a child is treated as such until proven otherwise, the State bears the burden of proof, uses reliable assessment methods, and age determinations are subject to independent review.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.16. Children who are detained have their health, welfare, educational and developmental needs regularly assessed and individual care and support plans reviewed.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.17. A protocol requires medical officers who believe the physical or mental health of a child detainee has been or will be injuriously affected by continued detention, hunger strike, witnessing violence or other traumatic incidents, or any other condition of detention, to report their concerns to the Director and to an independent authority responsible for safeguarding the child’s well-being of the child.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.18. Children suffering from mental illness, whether pre-existing or acquired since being detained, are treated in a specialised institution under independent medical management.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care

22.20. Access to childcare facilities is available during hearings and interviews, and as otherwise required.

22. Children,C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care