IDC Activities
Prior to its official launch in 2006, the IDC undertook a member survey to develop a strategic plan. Following the formalization of the IDC Secretariat in June 2008, an additional international detention survey was undertaken of members around the world, which helped further refine the IDC Strategic Plan for 2008-10.
Three core priorities were identified by members:
- Ending and limiting detention, particularly for children
- Developing and promoting alternatives to immigration detention
- Improving rights, conditions and monitoring of detention facilities
In light of these priorities, the Coalition has focused its work on three core strategic areas:
- Coalition Building; Develop the Coalition and strengthen communication and information sharing between members.
- Advocacy and Campaign Building: Develop the advocacy and campaign capacity of members and the IDC, with a particular focus on children in detention and alternatives to detention.
- Capacity Building: Facilitate training, resource and skills-sharing, as well as targeted partner projects with and between members, with a particular focus on members in the south.
A number of core tasks to meet our objectives were identified in the Strategic Plan 2008–10, including the development of:
- Website/E-newsletter as a resource tool
- Global Child Detention Campaign
- Handbook for Governments/Civil Society on implementing alternatives to detention
- Regional training/capacity building initiatives, with an initial focus on Malaysia/Asia Pacific region.
IDC’s work around the world
The IDC’s work is divided into 6 regions: Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, North America and Middle East and North Africa. Visit our Regional Pages on the home page for details of our members, regional representatives and latest developments.
IDC members have consistently raised two key issues over the past three years: 1. The impact of detention on children, and; 2. The need for alternatives to detention. Click here to see the IDC Framework for Change for Detainees
1. Advocacy on Alternatives to Detention
Through lobbying, submissions, research, reports, media, member advocacy support and strategy meetings, the IDC has worked tirelessly on this issue over the past year. Including in Australia, Belgium, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, UK and USA and support to members around the world. Click here to see our advocacy work over the past 12 months
The IDC has launched a postcard campaign to raise awareness of the alternatives to detention that protect the rights, dignity and wellbeing of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, while meeting government and community expectations. Click here to download the postcard. Click here for more our database on alternatives to detention.
2. Children in Detention
Thousands of children are detained around the world. Refugee, asylum seeker and migrant children are locked in prison cells, detention centres and closed camps. Some have no parents and others are forcibly separated from their families and left alone with adults and guards, vulnerable to physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
The IDC undertakes advocacy at the international, regional and national level on the need for alternatives to the detention of children. We have implemented projects aimed at improving the welfare of children in detention and encouraging policy change through demonstrating function alternatives. Our work has directly impacted on detention policy in a number of countries and the number of children in places of detention. Click here to see the IDC’s work with children in detention
The IDC is currently developing a global campaign on the issue of children in migration related detention. The campaign will include a comprehensive research document and will be conducted by a selection of our members in particular focus countries. To be part of the campaign or for more information contact campaign@idcoalition.org
3. Capacity Building
There is a great need for regional training and capacity building, with more than 95% of IDC members in the south identifying it necessary to help in their work with detainees. This includes training in detention standards, detention monitoring, advocacy and on working with detainees in a psychosocial capacity.
The Asia Pacific region is a strategic focus for the IDC, given the number of children detained and we have been very active in the region in the past year. This includes supporting and building the capacity of members in the region through training, advocacy strategy meetings, regional network development and project development. Click here to see details of our capacity building work
4. Research
IDC has undertaken extensive research on the issue of immigration detention and assisted member research initiatives around the world. Click here to see the IDC Research and the Detention Research Database or sign-up for our monthly International Detention Monitor e-Newsletter To find out more about our current research into children in detention or alternatives to detention, please email: research@idcoalition.org
Click here to see the 2009 IDC Annual Report on activities and outcomes over the past 12 months.
