Reparation for Stolen Generations is unfinished business
On the eve of the first anniversary of the historic apology to the Stolen Generations, Amnesty International is calling for the Federal Government to deliver full reparation to affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, using internationally-agreed upon human rights standards.
"Last year's apology was a truly significant first step and we acknowledge the development of some government initiatives in this area such as the Link Up program, which attempts to reunite Indigenous people with their communities. However, Australia still has a long way to go," said Rodney Dillon, Amnesty International Australia's Indigenous Rights Coordinator. "Denying justice for these acknowledged victims of gross human rights violations cannot be excused."
In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted guidelines on the right to remedy and reparation for victims of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law. These guidelines include the five components that constitute reparation - restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and the guarantee of non-repetition.
"Using these UN guidelines as a framework, it's clear that that Government needs to give priority to a lot of unfinished business," said Rodney Dillon.
"Restitution, or restoring victims to their original situation, is obviously only partly possible in this instance. However, a compensation scheme like Tasmania's should be rolled out across other States and Territories. Rehabilitation, satisfaction and non-repetition are achievable but ongoing human rights violations and a lack of entrenched protection against discrimination, as we are currently witnessing in the Northern Territory, are serious barriers to progress," said Rodney Dillon.
"Implementing the 54 recommendations in the Australian Human Rights Commission's 1997 Bringing Them Home report would amount to appropriate reparation. It is very disappointing that they remain largely unfulfilled," said Rodney Dillon.
Amnesty International urges the Government to deliver justice to the Stolen Generations by implementing outstanding recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report in consultation with affected Indigenous individuals and groups.
"Every delay in implementing these remedies compounds the trauma for members of the Stolen Generations and increases the risk that its effects will be transmitted to another generation. It is time for the government to complete the process of healing that began with the formal apology by announcing a plan to deliver full reparation to the Stolen Generations," said Rodney Dillon.
Comments
James Fehon | Posted on 21 February 2009, 04:40PM | Report comment
As a nation we can do a lot better than that Robin, We can make up for past injustices. I think we should.
Robin | Posted on 21 February 2009, 02:43PM | Report comment
i have a better idea.. All those who are upset and unhappy put up your hand!.. ok you are all gonna be shipped off to Burma. the choice is stay in burma or come back to aussie and keep your mouths shut .. stop whinging and get a life.
Shine | Posted on 21 February 2009, 10:53AM | Report comment
I know first hand where money is thrown in the wrong direction, & plenty of it. That money could be put to much better use. or given back to the tax payers. You obviously know it all James its no good changing your way of thinking. see ya….
Benita | Posted on 21 February 2009, 10:19AM | Report comment
Indigenous people have faced much worse than most of us. We’ve had the apology which is great but now we need to back it up. I think the ideas of rehabilitating and restoring dignity, removing the widespread prejudices out there are really important and we should start acknowledging that the gross injustice needs to be compensated. Not just “throwing money” the others parts are just as important.
Most of all people need to recognise that imposing restrictions by suspending the Racial Discrimination Act like we’ve seen at the moment in the NT Intervention isn’t the way. I can see how the policies must be racist if they’ve had to suspend it, I know it’s argued it’s needed but I can’t agree – these issues aren’t going to be solved by force or degrading people’s position more. Start building up and working with people, not restricting and discriminating again.
James Fehon | Posted on 21 February 2009, 10:02AM | Report comment
Have either of you read the “Bringing them home” report? http://www.humanrights.gov.au/Social_Justice/bth_report/report/appendices_9.html
Or the article above?
There’s a couple of really clear solutions being suggested but you’re reacting based on a narrow preconception of the problem and root issues.
I’m not talking about welfare handouts - I’m interested in seeing much broader institutional change. For Australians to stop the stereotyping as bludgers or whingers or unworthy of help and expecting people to help themselves, taking no responsibility for our part in getting the situation where it is today. That’s our main difference, you both don’t recognise this fault, when that’s meant to be exactly what an Apology is.
As I said both articles have a clear solution - We need reparation (to repair) by restitution (restoring position within our society – these means a change in attitudes), compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and the guarantee of non-repetition.
Shine | Posted on 21 February 2009, 09:32AM | Report comment
Thanks Robin. Sure glad someone else is on my side. If these guys have seen what I have, they would’nt be jumping down our throats with no solutions of their own except throw $$$ at the situation thinking it will all go away.
Robin | Posted on 20 February 2009, 09:18PM | Report comment
James i have and acknowledgement of Respect for your compassion and support to OUR Indigenous.dont kill our natives with kindness.we have to draw the line and set a balance,just like having a budget or controls,that was why previous govts set up ATSIC and the money was flowing out the bunghole until Clark and his maggots were found out.Its the same as starting a business you earn profits then put them back into the business hence it pays for itself.Your are wrong James suggesting RACISM… the new word is MULTICULTURALISM.
Join the new era…
Shine | Posted on 20 February 2009, 06:34PM | Report comment
Its not racism on my part. Face it, none of you have come up with a better solution to make sure young ones are properly nourished. I said I simpathise with the stolen Generation because of the ignorant leaders of the country at that time, but for god sake let it go & get on with life. Whats done is done, we would’nt let it happen again in this day & age. We have enough problems with the economy at the moment. Lets put some sanity back in our thinking & get our country back on track. If you want to call me, I’m fine with that, I have many stories to tell.
James Fehon | Posted on 20 February 2009, 05:42PM | Report comment
It’s not like in the war when it was universally applied - it’s racism again, and if you have two systems with more requirements on one you’ve got a case of people being treated as second class citizens. You simply can’t apply policies like that to a group of people based on a small minority of bad cases. It’s racist preconceptions that’ve made it seem ok to do, and you’re furthering them.
Have you ever asked your mates what they think about your labelling Aboriginals generally as free-loaders?
Or that, because of their race, they should be made to use a seperate checkout at the supermarket to pay with their food vouchers, issued based on race.
James Fehon | Posted on 20 February 2009, 05:37PM | Report comment
You’ve made a sweeping assumption there in your assertion I have no first hand experience - I’ve lived in a remote community, and stayed with an Indigenous family as well as having spent some time on Indigenous study, so you’re completely wrong on that point.
We agree spending has to be actually thought out but you’ve shifted an argument and the comments on this article to whether Indigenous Australians deserve reparation, dignity and assistance. For me it’s a resounding yes - the years of injustice we caused mean we have a responsibility to do something about it- we’ve recognised that with the apology, now how do we deal with all the problems you’re saying you yourself have seen?
The Government have an extensive report on it: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/Social_Justice/bth_report/report/appendices_9.html
But what I’d really like to see is some action & less of the blaming people themselves - It’s racist.
Shine | Posted on 20 February 2009, 05:16PM | Report comment
James. You obviously have’nt had any first hand experiences. After Billions of $$ spent every year, There has’nt been much improvement. We need someone with a few brains organising where the money is best spent. As for the houses we built for them, they are a disgrace. They have no respect for things that are given to them because they did’nt have to pay for them & when they wreck them they get them fixed for nothing on our taxpayers $$. Your comments on second class citizens because of food vouchers, what do you think people did during the war & how else are you going to make sure young aboriginal children are going to get a square meal. In my opinion its DO Gooders like you I was talking about. I have some great Aboriginal mates who agree with me, in fact one of those guys stays at my place & is one of the hardest workers I have worked with. My Aboriginal mates are’nt freeloaders like most. I agree the stolen generation should not have happened, but get on with life.
James Fehon | Posted on 20 February 2009, 04:54PM | Report comment
Here’s a great story you can follow if you want a better perspective, it’s by Scott Mitchell over at newmatilda.com part of their Urban Intervention experiment”: http://newmatilda.com/2009/02/20/send-trucks
James Fehon | Posted on 20 February 2009, 04:12PM | Report comment
Robin, you’re grossly misrepresenting Indigenous Australia.
Do you really think this is about a group of “bludgers”, motivated by hatred?
And don’t patronise our Indigenous population by referring to a “predicament of the Indigenous”. What’s in our shared past is a history of abuse, racist exploitation. A history of gross violation of their rights perpetrated by the people now living in their country.
Shine, food vouchers treat people as though they’re 2nd class. I can’t understand your suggesting that. Yes there’s work to be done, & previous administrations have not spent effectively but when we recognise the wider changes that need to go with it maybe some progress will be made. You’re recognising it’s the few giving others a bad name - but that’s the same of all people’s: tell us about the majority who do deserve to have the hurt & trauma we’ve caused repaired. This isn’t about money, it’s the basic rights & dignity you take for granted every day.
Robin | Posted on 16 February 2009, 06:14PM | Report comment
we the Australian public are saddened at the predicament of the Indigenous.(yes as SHINE says “monkey see monkey do” )Kevin 07 is a great PM,we hope he isnt soft to be bludged from again and again over this matter.Outspoken Indigemous use their HATE to justify their bleating i.e mundine.Help others who help themselves we the australian public will lovingly be happy to help the Indigenous when we see we are actually achieving results..Its like keeping a Coma patient alive.. Why.wot a waste of money. Dont ever say Kevin has done nothing,HE HAS ! Stamping out child abuse.If there are any corrupt Racist Police we want to know about them too.and SOPHIE you are correct.. they long been denied cos they not in the queue.
Shine | Posted on 16 February 2009, 12:41PM | Report comment
I agree with Robin. Rudd has done more than enough. All aboriginals do is put their hand for more & more & more…Where does it end. In my view the money is spent in the wrong areas. I have trained Aboriginals in Carpentary , built Aboriginal Houses, lived in Aboriginal communities. Money is wasted like you would’nt believe.. You get these so called Do-Gooders who know nothing about what is happening in the real world, spending hard earned taxpayers $$$. I have been to Dry Camps (what a laugh) Give them food vouchers, not money for piss…I’ve seen Aboriginal children living on chips & ice block & coke while their parents spend all their taxpayers money on grog. what hope is there for their children (monkey see monkey do) I am not against all Aboriginals only the bludgers who put their hand & expect to do nothing in return. these are the ones who are giving the rest a bad name….Whats in the past is in the past. Go get a job…
Sophie | Posted on 13 February 2009, 02:15PM | Report comment
There should be no queue Robin. Human rights apply to every individual and they have long been denied to indigenous Australians - what we’re talking about is action to back up words.
James Fehon | Posted on 13 February 2009, 01:56PM | Report comment
Indigenous Australians have had a much harder time than the rest of our population and it’s time we put repairing the atrocities of the Stolen Generation and past mistreatment with justice at the head of this queue.
We’ve said sorry, now we should be showing we meant it.
Robin | Posted on 13 February 2009, 12:31PM | Report comment
Join the queue and stop bleating. there are people out there who worse off than you.