Children’s commissioner finds evidence of ‘most egregious’ human rights breaches in Australia

The Help Way Earlier report details accounts of brutal treatment by police of young people held in youth detention. Photograph: Jonny Weeks/The Guardian

The national children’s commissioner says interviews with more than 150 young people about their experiences in the criminal justice system have revealed “evidence of the most egregious breaches of human rights in this country”.

Commissioner Anne Hollonds released a landmark report on Tuesday titled Help Way Earlier, which calls for the establishment of a national taskforce to reform child justice systems.