U.N. - 9 Luglio 2019 Bachelet Says US Detention Centers Could Be Breaking International Law She [UN human right chief Bachelet] explained that “even for short periods under good conditions,” the detention of children “can have a serious impact on their health and development.” Furthermore, Bachelet stated that “according to several UN human rights bodies, detaining migrant children may constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment that is prohibited under international law.” The High Commissioner’s condemnation of the US border detention facilities comes just days after the release of the report by the US Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. The report called for “immediate attention and action” to the “dangerous overcrowding and prolonged detention of the children and adults in the Rio Grande Valley” detention centers.