Amnesty International Australia said on Thursday it holds "serious concerns" over the NT government's curfew for young people in Alice Springs/Mparntwe.

The human rights organisation said the implementation of a curfew and the deployment of additional police officers is a "misguided attempt to address crime", which fails to address the underlying issues fuelling crime in communities.

Amnesty said the "punitive, criminalising" responses to youth crime "only exacerbates the systemic issues that lead to youth crime, while inflicting further harm upon young people", noting that vidence from justice reinvestment programs running across the country shows diversionary initiatives "overwhelmingly" see young people turn their lives around and remain out of the criminal justice system.

Amnesty International backed the views of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, which said on Wednesday it was "concerned and dismayed" by the government's "knee-jerk" approach.

The decision to implement curfews was made without community consultation and risks exacerbating rather than alleviating the challenges faced by First Nations youth and communities, Amnesty said.

Amnesty International Indigenous Rights Campaigner and Gomeroi woman Kacey Teerman said: "Our hearts are with the communities in Alice Springs in this tough time."

"Amnesty International also stands in solidarity with NAAJA in denouncing the youth curfew, as it merely sweeps the problem under the rug rather than providing meaningful solutions," she said.

"We echo Mr Sharp's (NAAJA Principal Legal Officer Jared Sharp) sentiment that a curfew is a blunt instrument that overlooks the complexities of young people's lives, including after-school activities and unsafe home environments. Instead of criminalising youth, we urgently call for increased funding for justice reinvestment programs that address the root causes of crime."

Ms Teerman said the curfew "is not just a policy issue; it is a human rights issue".

"We implore the NT government to listen to the voices of our community and work collaboratively with organisations like NAAJA to implement evidence-based approaches that prioritise the well-being and future of our youth," she said.

"The NT government can't continue to enact the same punitive, police-driven policies and expect different results. It's time to invest in our youth, empower our communities, and uphold the rights of all individuals in Alice Springs and beyond."

One Wednesday NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler declared a formal emergency situation and said: "Enough is enough. I have heard the community and my government is acting."

The declaration and the curfew came after tensions surrounding the death of an 18-year-old in a car accident erupted Tuesday - on the day of his funeral in Mparntwe/Alice Springs - leading to dozens attacking a local tavern and an estimated 150 people in Hidden Valley community, outside the city, "going armed in public and engaging in violent conduct", police reported.