Calls for national commissioner for Australia's Indigenous children

Nieuws, gepost door: nn op 27/10/2019 10:09:54

Wanneer: 27/10/2019 - 09:12

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are 17 times more likely to be in juvenile detention and 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care. More than 80 community groups are calling for a national commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to help uncover systemic issues impacting Indigenous children.

By Luke Michael at https://probonoaustralia.com.au/who-we-are/
The push is being led by the peak body for Indigenous children, SNAICC, and is supported by state and territory children’s commissioners.
SNAICC chair Muriel Bamblett said Indigenous children and young people needed a dedicated voice at the national level.
“Victoria and South Australia have established state commissioners that have uncovered systemic issues that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children,” Bamblett said.
“It is time the federal government establishes a dedicated commissioner so our children’s rights receive a dedicated focus at a national level.”
This call follows the release of the Family Matters 2019 report, which found Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people experienced widespread and persistent disadvantage.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people were 10.2 times more likely to be in out-of-home care and 17 times more likely to be in juvenile detention.
They were also 2.6 times more likely to be developmentally vulnerable than non-Indigenous children when starting school.
The report estimates that the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children removed from their families will more than double over the next decade.
________________________________________
Read more: ‘We have important things to say’ – Indigenous child briefs UN and calls on the Australian government to stop locking up kids
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2019/09/we-have-important-things-to...
________________________________________
SNAICC CEO and Family Matters co-chair Richard Weston said past attempts at improving outcomes for Indigenous children had failed because no one was held accountable.
He said the Family Matters report showed there was a lack of coherence and consistency in how Australian governments delivered services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
“A dedicated commissioner would help ensure government commitments are being implemented and that our children’s rights are being respected,” Weston said.
“A dedicated focus on advancing the rights of the current generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people is essential to end the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage.”
SNAICC has also released a position paper this week outlining how a national commissioner role should be established.
The paper said the role must:
• be established by legislation to ensure independence and autonomy from government;
• be filled by an Indigenous person with appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience and appointed through a transparent process;
• be mandated with a clear scope and purpose for the role;
• be granted appropriate functions and powers to promote systemic change and accountability, including powers of inquiry and investigation; and
• be appropriately resourced to perform its role effectively.

Tags: Australian racism

Global IMC Network www.indymedia.org Afrika Ambazonia Canarias Estrecho / Madiaq Kenya South Africa Canada London, Ontario Maritimes Quebec Oost Azië Japan Manila QC Saint-Petersburg Europa Abruzzo Alacant Antwerpen Athens Austria Barcelona Belarus Belgium Bristol Brussels Bulgaria Calabrië Cyprus Emilia-Romagna Estrecho / Madiaq Euskal Herria Galiza Duitsland grenoble Hungary Ireland Istanbul Italy La Plana Liege liguria Lille Linksunten Lombardia London Madrid Malta Marseille Nantes Napoli Netherlands Northern England Norway Nottingham Oost-Vlaanderen Paris/Île-de-France Piemonte Poland Portugal Roma Roemenië Russia Scotland Sverige Switzerland Torun Toscana Ukraine UK-GB Latijns Amerika Argentina Bolivia Chiapas Chile Sur Braszilië Sucre Colombia Ecuador Mexico Peru Puerto Rico Qollasuyu Rosario santiago Uruguay Valparaiso Venezuela Oceanië Aotearoa Manila Melbourne Perth QC Sydney Zuid-Azië India Verenigde Staten Arizona Atlanta Austin Baltimore Big Muddy Binghamton Buffalo Charlottesville Chicago Cleveland Colorado Columbus DC Hawaii Houston Hudson Mohawk LA Madison Michigan Milwaukee Minneapolis/St. Paul New Mexico New Orleans NYC Philadelphia Pittsburgh Portland Richmond Rochester Rogue Valley San Diego San Francisco Bay Area Santa Cruz, CA Sarasota Seattle Urbana-Champaign Worcester West Azië Beirut Israel Palestine Process FBI/Legal Updates Mailing Lists Process & IMC Docs Projecten Print Radio Video Regio's United States Topics Biotech