Aboriginal+History+The+ups+and+downs+to+becoming+what+we+are+today+part+2+(2000-present)

=The ups and downs to becoming how we are today, part 2 (2000-present): = = = ﻿In 2000, Australia had to appear before the United Nation’s committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The committee criticised the Commonwealth Government’s inadequate response to recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report. The committee stated:

"While noting the efforts by the State party to address the tragedies resulting from the previous policy of removing indigenous children from their families, the Committee remains concerned about the continuing effects of the policy. "The Committee recommends that the State party intensify these efforts so that the victims the victims themselves and their families will consider that they have been afforded a proper remedy. There was also an inquiry made by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Commission References Committee into the federal government’s implementation of the recommendations made by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in the Bringing Them Home Report."

On April the 4th of 2000, the Government of Australia denies that there was a stolen generation. The statement the government released declared:

"The government is concerned that there is no reliable basis for what appears to be a generally accepted conclusion as to the supposed dimensions of the “Stolen Generations.” At most, it might be inferred that up to 10% of children were separated for a variety of reasons, both protective and and otherwise, some forcibly and some not. This does not constitute a "generation" of "stolen" children. The phrase "stolen generation" is rhetorical."

In 2002 the Public Interest Advocacy Centre released Restoring Identity. In the report, there is a proposal for a reparations tribunal. The National Library of Australia Oral History project Many Voices is published; including reflections on experience of indigenous child separations. Finally, in 2002, the first member of the stolen generations was awarded compensation.

In 2003 the Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Commission released an independent evaluation of government and non-government responses to the Bringing Them Home report. A few months later the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner publically criticised the failure of the Government to provide financial and social reparations and a national apology to those “stolen.”

By 2004, 461 Sorry Books are inscribed on the Australian Memory of the World register (an association that protects and promotes documented material of historical value). Near the end of the year, the Commonwealth Government established a memorial in Canberra, dedicated to the Stolen Generations.

The Stolen Generations Victoria was established in 2005, its purpose to reconnect people with their families, community, culture and land. It was found to be very useful to the unfortunate Aborigines and to make things even better, the first official Sorry Day ceremony outside Australia was held in Lincoln Fields, London on May the 25th 2005.

In 2006, the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal Children Act set up the Stolen Generations Compensation Scheme in Australia, in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Government donated five million dollars as a start up package for the organisation.

In a 2007 case for compensation, Bruce Trerorrow was awarded $525,000, ($440,000 for injuries and losses suffered and $75,000 for unlawful removal and false imprisonment.) Bruce, like many other members of the Stolen Generations suffered time in jails and institutes, poor health, alcoholism, smoking and depression. The first time Bruce saw his mother after the removal when he was just 13 months old, was when he was 10 years of age, but already he was rebellious and didn’t know any ways of his culture. Bruce relived his painful memories in court and he rightfully won the compensation he deserved, although in 2010, the South Australian Government took him back to court, demanding that the money had to be paid back. The full court of South Australia Supreme Court ruled that the government had been negligent in its treatment of Bruce; Bruce won the case.

On September the 14th, 2007 the United Nations made a declaration for the rights of Indigenous people worldwide. 134 countries voted for the declaration, 11 abstained and Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States were the only countries to oppose the declaration. On October the 2nd the Stolen Generations memorial opened in Western Australia. In early 2008, Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations.

On the 13th of February 2009, The Australian government promised and delivered the association: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation. The foundation deals with “trauma experienced by all aboriginal people as the after effect of colonisation,” but in particular the stolen generations. The association educates communities and social workers, funds healing work and evaluates healing programs. On the 2nd of April the Human Rights Committee reports on Australia, they recommended the government “adopt a comprehensive national mechanism to ensure that adequate reparation, including compensation, is provided to the victims of the stolen generations policies.” The federal attorney doesn’t agree to this statement and rules that no one is allowed to challenge this decision.

By August 2009, the United Nations responded to a formal complaint by the Aboriginal Legal Rights. The UN government replied that they are “concerned about a lack of adequate access to justice” for Indigenous people and recommends the government compensates victims of the Stolen Generations. As well as the recommendation, the UN offers compensation for the Aboriginals. The Australian government refuses the kind offer.

On the 27th of October 2009, the New South Wales governor Marie Bashir launches the Kinchela Boy’s Home Aboriginal Corporation Strategic Plan. This organisation was one of the most helpful, helping aboriginal men counselling, reunions and programs for families. Unfortunately in November, the National Archives Australia state that they will close offices in Darwin, Adelaide and two in Hobart due to “huge saving requirements.” The aboriginals are shocked to learn this as the offices are regularly used by both other services and the aboriginals themselves.

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