"Significant numbers of Aboriginal children were removed, or stolen, from their families. And such practices were enshrined in the policies of the time and endorsed by government. The legacy of these policies and practices has been devastating for my people. This legacy continues to impact on each successive generation, causing immeasurable grief and trauma and loss of culture. tude is killing our children." -Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue, Aboriginal Activist.
The stigma placed upon community services and religious groups due to the stolen generation is having a nasty flow on effect for 21st century children in danger. After a decade of preaching of the damage done when children are removed from their parents, children are now suffering in the hands of negligent parents around Australia. This is not just happening within our troubled Aboriginal communities in remote Australia - The William Thomas Clare case saw a 3 year old boy raped and murdered, his six year old sister also raped. Their mother entrusted Clare with baby sitting her children after meeting him at a train station, and continued to let him look after her children after her daughter told her he was looking at her genitals. The 3 year old boy died after being raped and electrocuted with exposed wires shortly after.
Some of the ongoing concerns with Aboriginal children's living conditions were highlighted earlier this year.
"According to West Australian Health Department statistics, 708 children under 14 had been infected with the diseases since 2001. And almost 80 per cent of the victims were Aboriginal.
Of those, 19 were toddlers and preschoolers under the age of four. In the Kimberley region in the state's far northwest, four children aged under four had been infected with chlamydia or gonorrhoea last year." From 'STDs rife in indigenous children' by Ashleigh Wilson and Tony Barrass in the Australian June 23, 2006.
Of those, 19 were toddlers and preschoolers under the age of four. In the Kimberley region in the state's far northwest, four children aged under four had been infected with chlamydia or gonorrhoea last year." From 'STDs rife in indigenous children' by Ashleigh Wilson and Tony Barrass in the Australian June 23, 2006.
Now let us examine the rights of a child that Australia has signed up to:
From UNICEFs the Convention of Rights of a Child:
Article 3: “In all actions concerning children … the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.”
Article 19: Children must be protected from “… injury or abuse … including sexual abuse, while in the care of parents … or any other person….”
The right for children to remain in the care of their parents if it is there choice is also a right that has been ratified by Australia. The problem is that this right seems to be used above all others in determining how state community services deal with children in dangerous and disadvantaged situations. Australian children are suffering terrible abuse because community service now believes that 'stealing' a child is a greater sin than allowing one to remain in suffering and abuse. When do we realise again that in some extreme cases, taking a child away from their parents - yes stealing that child - is in the best interets of that child!
The proponents of the 'never again' viewpoint after the stolen generation debates have a lot to answer for. I believe that the children's rights should come before an adult - if we have to steal a child from an adult to ensure that child lives a healthy and happy life, so be it.
3 comments:
If you could let me know how you found my site, it would be great - trying to increase exposure.
cheers
- Ben
I found your site via OzPolitics.
Legislation already exists for abused children to be removed from abusive or negligent parents. Of course this must be exercised in all communities including Aboriginal communities!
The need for more and better education about reporting abuse is the main concern I see.
Miranda Devine continues her fight in todays column in SMH:
"In another generation, will Shepherd's successor be writing a letter apologising for the Un-Stolen Generation?
Has guilt over historic forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families so engulfed the social work establishment that fear of creating another "Stolen Generation" can now override the best interests of vulnerable children?
NSW Ombudsman Bruce Barbour was moved by the circumstances of Jeremy's death and DoCS' inaction to single out the case for a special report in 2004. But even after his intervention, little changed.
Even after the injection of $1.2 billion for reform and several new policies, Barbour reported last December that the outcome for Jeremy and his sister would be the same today."
Hopefully her continued attention will see a further focus on problems within the DoCS system.
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