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Subject:
Raise the age to 14
I am writing to ask you to let Minister Wakefield know that I, and many other Territorians, don’t want to see children between 10 and 13 years old in prison. Right now in the Territory children between 10 and 13 years old are locked up in prison. Medical experts say that children’s brains are still developing, especially the parts that regulate judgement, decision-making and impulse control. This means that kids cannot foresee the consequences of any action and cannot fully understand the criminal nature of their behaviour. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has called on countries to raise the age to at least 14 years old. The median global age is 14 years and countries like China, Russia, Germany, Spain, Sierra Leone, Azerbaijan, Cambodia and Rwanda have shown leadership by taking this step and we must do the same for Australian kids. The Territory Government has accepted most of the recommendations of the Royal Commission investigating the abuses occurring at Don Dale, including raising the age. The national and Territory community sector is in support of raising the age to 14 and the government should show national leadership and raise the age to 14 in October. I call you to immediately and urgently write to Minister Wakefield and call on her to raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 years old, and instead place kids in prevention programs that give them the care and support they need.
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