Leading human rights organisations are asking the Northern Territory and Federal Government to ensure children in detention are not mistreated while awaiting recommendations from the royal commission into youth detention.

Human rights advocates called for immediate action to: Ban solitary confinement

Ban solitary confinement Consult with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander organisations

Consult with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander organisations Ratify the optional protocol to the Convention against Torture

The royal commission, which was set up in the wake of Four Corners' explosive revelations about the mistreatment of young detainees at Darwin's Don Dale facility, will have its first public hearing today.

The Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), Amnesty International and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Legal Services (NATSILS) are calling for immediate action instead of waiting for the royal commission's recommendations in March.

Director of legal advocacy at the HRLC Ruth Barson said the royal commission presented a great opportunity for both governments to act proactively.

"There are three key things the Northern Territory Government should be doing immediately," Ms Barson said.

"They should ban the use of solitary confinement in all youth detention centres in the Northern Territory.

"We have reports that young people continue to be held in solitary confinement in Don Dale."

She pointed to the example of Western Australia, where she said an independent inspector provided routine inspections and oversight of all detention facilities.

"They also receive complaints and they take preventative action. We know from international experience that independent oversight and prevention is key to making sure that we don't see the types of abuses that we have seen coming out of Don Dale."

More than 95 per cent of young people in currently held in youth detention in the Northern Territory are of Aboriginal descent and NATSILS is asking the Territory Government to consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations in an effort to reduce their alarmingly high rate of youth detention.

The HRLC, Amnesty International and NATSILS are also calling for the Federal Government to ratify the optional protocol to the Convention against Torture to ensure that independent and preventative bodies are established in all states and territories to oversee youth detention facilities.

The vast distances between Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory is also prompting calls for funding to be provided to help those affected have their stories heard by the commission.

"If the royal commission and the Federal Government is committed to hearing the voices and experiences of Aboriginal people, it is essential for their representative organisations to be properly funded to provide those services and expertise to the royal commission," Ms Burson said.