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Australian gov’t blamed for abuse of Aboriginal women, children

 By Neena Bhandari

6 June 2006 - SYDNEY - Revelations of horrific sexual abuse and violence suffered by women and children in Australia’s Aboriginal communities has surfaced during the fifth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) held in New York.

During the two-week session of the forum, which ended May 26, representatives of 370 million Indigenous people from 70 countries campaigned for full participation in decisions that affect them, among other pressing issues.

A leaked confidential briefing paper by Nanette Rogers, government prosecutor in the Northern Territory, exposes how Indigenous culture and close-knit kinship ties have helped throw a blanket of silence over rampant violence against women and children.

But activists and people in authority are also blaming government inaction and neglect for a tragedy that has its roots in racist subjugation by European colonizers. Disruptive policies included forcible separation of tens of thousands of children from their families between 1900 and 1970 to “breed out” Aborigine blood.

An extreme case of abuse recorded by Ms. Rogers was that of a 6-year-old girl drowning while being raped by an 18-year-old male who had been sniffing petrol. Another was that of two infants requiring surgery after being sexually assaulted by men while the mothers were away drinking alcohol.

Indigenous people make up barely two percent of Australia’s population of 20 million, but they suffer far higher rates of alcoholism, unemployment, imprisonment and domestic abuse.

The Aborigines and Torres Strait islanders of Australia are among the most marginalized populations in the developed world. Homicide is the leading cause of premature death for Indigenous women, who are 45 times more likely to be victims of domestic violence than other Australians.

Ms. Rogers, who has experience working as a defense attorney in a 15-year legal career, says in her report, “Child Sexual Assault and Some Cultural Issues in the Northern Territory,” that Aboriginal people in central Australia must take more responsibility for reporting crime, but also following through and testifying in court.

Indigenous women and girls are 28 times more likely than other Australian females to be admitted to hospital for assault injuries, according to a 2003 report compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. Boys fare no better. Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology recently revealed that aboriginal boys were 10 times more likely to be raped than other Australian males.

In the last 12 months, in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, there have been several cases of young women in their late teens stabbing their boyfriends to death.

Violence is so entrenched in some communities that they are simply labeled “dysfunctional” communities or “outback ghettos.” Ms. Rogers blames the problems on indigenous culture, which he says allows men to feel they can disregard the law and act with impunity.

But Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma says governments need to work with communities and families to address socioeconomic factors that impact violence. These could be improved housing and living conditions, creation of meaningful employment, recreation facilities and general community health education programs.

Oxfam, the aid agency, predicts that widespread abuse in Indigenous communities will continue unless government acts. James Ensor, acting executive director of Oxfam Australia, said, “Chronic under-funding of basic services, ordinary Australians take for granted, has contributed to this crisis.”

In the 2006-2007 federal budget, only about $90 million has been allocated for Indigenous health, even as the Australian Medical Association identified a $345 million annual shortfall in Indigenous primary health-care spending.

“Top down and Canberra-determined policies have not and will not work,” Mr. Ensor said, adding that Indigenous leaders needed to be at the center of decision-making at all levels.

While Australia’s Minister for Indigenous Affairs Mal Brough wants to call an emergency summit of state and territory leaders to discuss the issue, Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin says a national summit will achieve little as Aboriginal people are demanding action. After indicating that the federal government was prepared to intervene to remove children from abusive situations and force parents with drug and alcohol problems to seek treatment, Mr. Brough has ignited fresh debate about the “stolen generations.”  

 
Source: FinalCall.com News

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