Hong Kong police ‘depriving underage demonstrators of their rights’ activists say, vowing to make report to United Nations
- Chong Chan-yau files open letter to city leader Carrie Lam after launching petition to urge her to stop what he called the violation of the fundamental human rights of children
- At least three arrested teenagers were held in juvenile home for between five and 27 days, pending assessment into whether a care of protection order was necessary
Hong Kong activists have accused police of depriving underage demonstrators arrested during the city’s anti-government protests of their rights and vowed to make a report to the United Nations.
Chong Chan-yau, a well-known blind activist in the city, filed an open letter to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Thursday after launching a petition to urge her to stop what he called the violation of the fundamental human rights of children. In five days, he collected more than 4,500 signatures.
Citing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Chong said every government and institution should act for the greatest benefits of children.
The convention recognises rights such as the freedom of expression and requires state parties to ensure a child is not be separated from a parent against their will. It also specifies that states should ensure measures for dealing with children without resorting to judicial proceedings whenever appropriate and desirable.
Chong noted police had applied a care or protection order against multiple underage protesters before laying charges, which separated them from their families.
