The ICJ supports the demand of the South African Institute for Race Relations for the appointment of an independent commission of inquiry to examine a ll aspects of detention without trial in South Africa.
It also urges that the mandate of the commission include an examination o f the practices with respect to, and the conditions of detention of young children.
The evidence of children in detention includes:
- the numbers
- age of children, duration of detention and condition of confinement
- parental access
- police brutality
There is also a supplement to the special report of July 1978 prepared by the ICJ. The figures reveal that as of June 23, 1978, a total of 806 persons were being detained in South Africa, including 31 children under the age of 18, and 169 school pupils.
South Africa-detention children-report-1978-eng (full text in English, PDF)