The Australian government has agreed to pay more than 120 Indonesians who say that Canberra wrongly detained or prosecuted some of them as adult people smugglers while they were still children settling a major class action suit. Canberra has agreed to pay more than A$27 million (US$17 million) to the victims.&nbsp;

<h2>Settlement offer</h2>

The class action brought by the Indonesians – some of whom were as young as 12 – at the time was recently settled after the Australian officials were said to have used a deeply flawed wrist X-ray technique to determine their age and locked them up in adult prisons and prosecuted in adult courts.&nbsp;

“It’s fair to say we’re delighted to have gotten this outcome...this has been 10 years in the making,” said Sam Tierney, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, as quoted by the BBC.&nbsp;

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According to reports, most applicants involved in the class action suit were detained between 2009 and 2012 after arriving in Australia on people-smuggling boats during a highly charged political climate around border protection.

The case began with over 120 class action members but has reportedly grown in the two years since proceedings began. It was not until Thursday (Oct 5) that the parties reached an agreement to settle for $17 million, plus the legal fees.&nbsp;

Notably, the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing and is pending final approval by the federal court before it can be paid out.

<h2>What do we know about the case?</h2>

The Indonesians had told Australian authorities at the time that they were lured onto the boats as children with offers of highly paid work, often unaware of their destination or that they were to transport asylum seekers.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the Indonesians who brought the class action suit also said that they told authorities they were children but the Australian federal police relied on a wrist X-ray technique to convince courts they were adults which led to their detainment and prosecution as adult people smugglers.

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Australian law mandated that any children found on these boats should be returned to their home countries. Colin Singer, a prison guard, told BBC back in 2018, that he believed the Australian government had “knowingly” imprisoned the children, and that the Indonesian government “didn’t want to do anything” to help them.

The lead plaintiff, Ali Jasmin, also accused Australian officials of negligence and racial discrimination. He also claims to have been assaulted in Hakea prison in 2010 where he was held on remand.

<h2>What happens now?</h2>

According to reports, the federal court will now give a chance for others to object to the settlement before a subsequent hearing in December.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-former-childcare-worker-charged-with-1623-sexual-abuse-offences-against-91-young-girls-621455">Explained | Australian man charged with 1,623 sexual abuse offences: Here's what happened</a>

After which the lawyers for the plaintiffs will spend the next one year looking for any additional Indonesians who may be eligible for compensation, reported the Guardian.&nbsp; 
 
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The Australian government has agreed to pay more than 120 Indonesians who say that Canberra wrongly detained or prosecuted some of them as adult people smugglers while they were still children settling a major class action suit.

The Australian government has agreed to pay more than 120 Indonesians who say that Canberra wrongly detained or prosecuted some of them as adult people smugglers while they were still children settling a major class action suit. Canberra has agreed to pay more than A$27 million (US$17 million) to the victims. Settlement offer The class action brought by the Indonesians – some of whom were as young as 12 – at the time was recently settled after the Australian officials were said to have used a deeply flawed wrist X-ray technique to determine their age and locked them up in adult prisons and prosecuted in adult courts. “It’s fair to say we’re delighted to have gotten this outcome...this has been 10 years in the making,” said Sam Tierney, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, as quoted by the BBC. ALSO READ | Highly-decorated Australian soldier loses case against media giants amidst grave war crimes allegations According to reports, most applicants involved in the class action suit were detained between 2009 and 2012 after arriving in Australia on people-smuggling boats during a highly charged political climate around border protection. The case began with over 120 class action members but has reportedly grown in the two years since proceedings began. It was not until Thursday (Oct 5) that the parties reached an agreement to settle for $17 million, plus the legal fees. Notably, the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing and is pending final approval by the federal court before it can be paid out. What do we know about the case? The Indonesians had told Australian authorities at the time that they were lured onto the boats as children with offers of highly paid work, often unaware of their destination or that they were to transport asylum seekers. Furthermore, the Indonesians who brought the class action suit also said that they told authorities they were children but the Australian federal police relied on a wrist X-ray technique to convince courts they were adults which led to their detainment and prosecution as adult people smugglers. ALSO READ | Australian police arrest over 200 after cracking underworld messaging app Australian law mandated that any children found on these boats should be returned to their home countries. Colin Singer, a prison guard, told BBC back in 2018, that he believed the Australian government had “knowingly” imprisoned the children, and that the Indonesian government “didn’t want to do anything” to help them. The lead plaintiff, Ali Jasmin, also accused Australian officials of negligence and racial discrimination. He also claims to have been assaulted in Hakea prison in 2010 where he was held on remand. What happens now? According to reports, the federal court will now give a chance for others to object to the settlement before a subsequent hearing in December. ALSO READ | Explained | Australian man charged with 1,623 sexual abuse offences: Here's what happened After which the lawyers for the plaintiffs will spend the next one year looking for any additional Indonesians who may be eligible for compensation, reported the Guardian. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia to pay $17 million in compensation to Indonesian children held in adult jails

Nearly 300 children have died in the six months of 2023 while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, reported the United Nations children’s agency, on Friday (July 14); the toll being the double when compared to the casualties in the same period last year. 
&nbsp;

<h2>11 children died every week trying to cross Mediterranean</h2>

A report by UNICEF shows that at least 289 children have lost their lives while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, which amounts to an average of 11 boys and girls dying each week. The findings were announced by the agency’s Global Lead on Migration and Displacement, Vera Knaus, in Geneva.&nbsp;

UNICEF has also warned that the actual number of child casualties might be higher since many shipwrecks, particularly in the Central Mediterranean typically have no survivors or go unrecorded.&nbsp;

The UN agency also estimated that as many as 11,600 children have made the crossing, in the first six months of 2023, which is also close to double in the same period in 2022.

Additionally, the UNICEF official also spoke about how more than 70 per cent of the children who do make it across the dangerous sea journey from North Africa to Europe are alone.&nbsp;

The UN data shows that during the first three months of this year, 3,300 boys and girls were unaccompanied or separated children. Since 2018, 1,500 children have died or gone missing, said UNICEF.&nbsp;

“We cannot continue to ignore what is happening – stand by silently when nearly 300 children – an entire plane full of children - are dying in the waters between Europe and Africa in just six months,” said Knaus.

<h2>World is ‘willfully’ ignoring&nbsp;‘preventable deaths’&nbsp;</h2>

Knaus said that the numbers are “far beyond what we hear in news headlines,” and it appears that the world is “willfully ignoring what is happening” given the silence surrounding many of these preventable deaths.

The Central Mediterranean is said to be among the deadliest migration routes for children. “Children are dying not just in front of our eyes; they are dying while we seem to keep our eyes closed. &nbsp;Hundreds of girls and boys are drowning in the world’s inaction,” said the UN official.&nbsp;

UNICEF has also attributed the recent rise in the number of migrants to conflict and climate change.&nbsp;

“They are as much driven by the complex emergencies, conflicts and climate risks that drive children from their homes as by the lack of political and practical action to do what it takes to enable safe access to asylum and to protect the rights and lives of children wherever they come from and whatever their mode of travel,” said Knaus.&nbsp;

 
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Nearly 300 children have died in the six months of 2023 while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, reported the United Nations children’s agency, on Friday (July 14); the toll being the double when compared to the casualties in the same period last year.

Nearly 300 children have died in the six months of 2023 while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, reported the United Nations children’s agency, on Friday (July 14); the toll being the double when compared to the casualties in the same period last year. 11 children died every week trying to cross Mediterranean A report by UNICEF shows that at least 289 children have lost their lives while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, which amounts to an average of 11 boys and girls dying each week. The findings were announced by the agency’s Global Lead on Migration and Displacement, Vera Knaus, in Geneva. UNICEF has also warned that the actual number of child casualties might be higher since many shipwrecks, particularly in the Central Mediterranean typically have no survivors or go unrecorded. The UN agency also estimated that as many as 11,600 children have made the crossing, in the first six months of 2023, which is also close to double in the same period in 2022. Additionally, the UNICEF official also spoke about how more than 70 per cent of the children who do make it across the dangerous sea journey from North Africa to Europe are alone. The UN data shows that during the first three months of this year, 3,300 boys and girls were unaccompanied or separated children. Since 2018, 1,500 children have died or gone missing, said UNICEF. “We cannot continue to ignore what is happening – stand by silently when nearly 300 children – an entire plane full of children - are dying in the waters between Europe and Africa in just six months,” said Knaus. World is ‘willfully’ ignoring ‘preventable deaths’ Knaus said that the numbers are “far beyond what we hear in news headlines,” and it appears that the world is “willfully ignoring what is happening” given the silence surrounding many of these preventable deaths. The Central Mediterranean is said to be among the deadliest migration routes for children. “Children are dying not just in front of our eyes; they are dying while we seem to keep our eyes closed. Hundreds of girls and boys are drowning in the world’s inaction,” said the UN official. UNICEF has also attributed the recent rise in the number of migrants to conflict and climate change. “They are as much driven by the complex emergencies, conflicts and climate risks that drive children from their homes as by the lack of political and practical action to do what it takes to enable safe access to asylum and to protect the rights and lives of children wherever they come from and whatever their mode of travel,” said Knaus. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Nearly 300 children died this year trying to cross Mediterranean Sea: UN

At least 15 people have died as two boats carrying migrants sank in Greek waters late Wednesday, and rescuers were looking for dozens still missing.

At least 15 dead as two boats carrying 40 migrants sink in Greek waters

Despite French authorities' warnings that it could imperil lives, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom Priti Patel is planning to send back small boats carrying migrants over the Channel.

It would enable British officers to forcibly return small boats to French seas. It's unclear whether the suggestions include returning migrants to French shores.&nbsp;

According to a statement from the Home Office, Border Force personnel are being trained to use "turn-around" methods at sea as part of two-year plans.&nbsp;

The United Nations has denounced Priti Patel's plans to allow the UK Border Force to turn back boats bringing migrants across the English Channel (UN).

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN's refugee agency, said it was "extremely concerned" about the UK's proposals to amend maritime legislation and send migrant boats back.

"We are particularly concerned by these reports, primarily because of the possible hazards associated for individuals at sea seeking safety," a UNHCR spokeswoman said.&nbsp;

The Home Secretary has instructed senior law officers to rewrite maritime legislation to allow the Border Force to catch migrant boats and return them to French waters in order to push them back.

As a result, they would have to deal with French authorities, forcing Ms Patel's French counterpart to flatly reject the ideas.

The French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, accused Britain of "financial blackmail" and stated that any violations of marine law would not be tolerated.&nbsp;

(With inputs agencies)

Despite French authorities' warnings that it could imperil lives, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom Priti Patel is planning to send back small boats carrying migrants over the Channel.

Despite French authorities' warnings that it could imperil lives, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom Priti Patel is planning to send back small boats carrying migrants over the Channel. It would enable British officers to forcibly return small boats to French seas. It's unclear whether the suggestions include returning migrants to French shores. According to a statement from the Home Office, Border Force personnel are being trained to use "turn-around" methods at sea as part of two-year plans. The United Nations has denounced Priti Patel's plans to allow the UK Border Force to turn back boats bringing migrants across the English Channel (UN). The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN's refugee agency, said it was "extremely concerned" about the UK's proposals to amend maritime legislation and send migrant boats back. "We are particularly concerned by these reports, primarily because of the possible hazards associated for individuals at sea seeking safety," a UNHCR spokeswoman said. The Home Secretary has instructed senior law officers to rewrite maritime legislation to allow the Border Force to catch migrant boats and return them to French waters in order to push them back. As a result, they would have to deal with French authorities, forcing Ms Patel's French counterpart to flatly reject the ideas. The French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, accused Britain of "financial blackmail" and stated that any violations of marine law would not be tolerated. (With inputs agencies)

Migrant boats crossing the English Channel could be turned back by Britain

Some 60 people are missing and believed drowned after the dinghy they were on sank off Libya, the International Organisation for Migration said today, citing survivor testimony.

The inflatable had been carrying 140-150 people including women when it began taking on water five hours after setting off from North Africa on Monday, according to 80 survivors who were brought to safety in Italy.

&quot;They don&#39;t know how long it was before help arrived. They clung to bits of the dinghy until it fell dark, then a boat arrived and they were rescued,&quot; IOM spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo told AFP.

The survivors were later transferred to the British military ship HMS Echo, which is currently operating in the Mediterranean as part of the EU&#39;s anti-trafficking Operation Sophia.

They were among 550 people the HMS Echo disembarked in the Italian port of Brindisi on Friday, following an intense week of rescues at sea.

With smugglers taking advantage of a spell of good weather and calm seas, more than 10,000 people were rescued from rickety boats off Libya since Sunday alone.

Nearly 77,000 migrants have landed in Italy since January, up 15 percent on the same period in 2016.

The latest deaths increase the toll of people dying attempting the crossing or missing, feared drowned, to nearly 2,100 since the beginning of 2017.&nbsp;

The inflatable had been carrying 140-150 people including women when it began taking on water five hours after setting off from North Africa on Monday

Some 60 people are missing and believed drowned after the dinghy they were on sank off Libya, the International Organisation for Migration said today, citing survivor testimony. The inflatable had been carrying 140-150 people including women when it began taking on water five hours after setting off from North Africa on Monday, according to 80 survivors who were brought to safety in Italy. "They don't know how long it was before help arrived. They clung to bits of the dinghy until it fell dark, then a boat arrived and they were rescued," IOM spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo told AFP. The survivors were later transferred to the British military ship HMS Echo, which is currently operating in the Mediterranean as part of the EU's anti-trafficking Operation Sophia. They were among 550 people the HMS Echo disembarked in the Italian port of Brindisi on Friday, following an intense week of rescues at sea. With smugglers taking advantage of a spell of good weather and calm seas, more than 10,000 people were rescued from rickety boats off Libya since Sunday alone. Nearly 77,000 migrants have landed in Italy since January, up 15 percent on the same period in 2016. The latest deaths increase the toll of people dying attempting the crossing or missing, feared drowned, to nearly 2,100 since the beginning of 2017.

60 missing feared drowned after boat sinks off Libya

At least eight migrants died when their boat overturned off the coast of Libya on Saturday but the death toll may be much higher, the Italian coastguard said.

Four people have been rescued but the survivors reported that more than a hundred were on board when the boat capsized around 30 miles (50 km) off Libya, a coastguard spokesman said.

French and Italian naval and merchant vessels, as well as a plane and a helicopter, were involved in rescue operations, the spokesman said.

In the previous 24 hours, coastguard and naval ships as well as privately owned fishing and merchant vessels had saved around 750 migrants from rubber and wooden boats in the central Mediterranean, but also recovered five dead bodies, the coastguard said.

The spokesman could give no details on the nationalities of those saved or those who died.

Last year, a record 181,000 boat migrants, mostly from Africa, reached Italy, according to government figures. The majority paid Libyan people traffickers to make the journey.

Last year was also the deadliest on record for migrants in the Mediterranean, with almost 5,000 deaths, according to the International Organization for Migration.

(Reuters)

But the survivors reported that more than a hundred were on board when the boat capsized 30 miles off Libya

At least eight migrants died when their boat overturned off the coast of Libya on Saturday but the death toll may be much higher, the Italian coastguard said. Four people have been rescued but the survivors reported that more than a hundred were on board when the boat capsized around 30 miles (50 km) off Libya, a coastguard spokesman said. French and Italian naval and merchant vessels, as well as a plane and a helicopter, were involved in rescue operations, the spokesman said. In the previous 24 hours, coastguard and naval ships as well as privately owned fishing and merchant vessels had saved around 750 migrants from rubber and wooden boats in the central Mediterranean, but also recovered five dead bodies, the coastguard said. The spokesman could give no details on the nationalities of those saved or those who died. Last year, a record 181,000 boat migrants, mostly from Africa, reached Italy, according to government figures. The majority paid Libyan people traffickers to make the journey. Last year was also the deadliest on record for migrants in the Mediterranean, with almost 5,000 deaths, according to the International Organization for Migration. (Reuters)

8 migrants dead, four rescued as boat capsizes in Mediterranean

Security forces should shoot at the boats of migrants trying to reach the European Union illegally, a member of parliament for the Danish government&#39;s main political ally, the Danish People&#39;s Party, suggested on national television.

&quot;The only efficient way is to turn the boats and say: You cannot sail within this national border and if you do, you will either be shot at or be turned around and sailed back,&quot; Kenneth Berth, the EU spokesman for anti-immigrant party, said on broadcaster DK4 on Tuesday.

Berth later softened his statement on Facebook, saying he did not mean that people should be shot at, but that NATO-ships could shoot in the air as a warning.

Party spokesman Soren Sondergaard told Reuters that shooting at refugees is not the official party line.

The Danish People&#39;s Party got 21 per cent of the popular vote in last year&#39;s general election, making it the second-largest party in parliament.

Denmark has implemented tough immigration policies since a heavy influx of refugees last year, including border control and a controversial &quot;jewellery bill&quot;.

In August, the government proposed an emergency law, allowing it to reject asylum seekers at its borders.

(Reuters)

Kenneth Berth said on Tuesday migrant boats trying to reach the EU illegally should either be shot at or be turned around

Security forces should shoot at the boats of migrants trying to reach the European Union illegally, a member of parliament for the Danish government's main political ally, the Danish People's Party, suggested on national television. "The only efficient way is to turn the boats and say: You cannot sail within this national border and if you do, you will either be shot at or be turned around and sailed back," Kenneth Berth, the EU spokesman for anti-immigrant party, said on broadcaster DK4 on Tuesday. Berth later softened his statement on Facebook, saying he did not mean that people should be shot at, but that NATO-ships could shoot in the air as a warning. Party spokesman Soren Sondergaard told Reuters that shooting at refugees is not the official party line. The Danish People's Party got 21 per cent of the popular vote in last year's general election, making it the second-largest party in parliament. Denmark has implemented tough immigration policies since a heavy influx of refugees last year, including border control and a controversial "jewellery bill". In August, the government proposed an emergency law, allowing it to reject asylum seekers at its borders. (Reuters)

Danish MP suggests shooting at boats carrying migrants

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