CHAPTER 5 VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES OF CHILDREN DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY b. Complaints Many of the children said they were able to access someone who was supportive and listened to their concerns. Some had used this mechanism to complain about things such as food, rooms, and abuses by staff, but there was rarely a response. In general, there was a lack of understanding as to how these concerns were dealt with or resolved. ‘Don’t feel like views are taken seriously, not listened to, care staff treat us like kids’. (M/17/1:WEOG) ‘We think our views are not important for them’. (M/13-15/1:APG) Some children described experiences of having their requests denied by the judge with no reason given for the denial. ‘They didn’t hear my point of view, instead the prosecutor was asking me questions and write down his own answers without listening to me’. (F/12-18/1:AFG) A few children described how complaining about their situation could sometimes make things worse for them and they understood that adults may collude with each other, especially if the complaint referred to abuses by staff. ‘If you complained, you were punished. They could lock you or not give food.’ (M/F/18/4:EEG) ‘If we go to the principal and make a complaint, he is not listening to us. Cause they are colleagues among themselves, and of course he is not taking our side’. (M/17/1:EEG) c. Privacy and Confidentiality Some respondents commented that they only experience privacy when in the bathroom. One girl felt her privacy was invaded when she found out that all the information that she spoke about with the psychosocial team was not confidential and was in fact passed on without her knowledge. ‘I disliked when all the information was going to be read by the judge’. (F/17-20/1:LAC) 94