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Celebrating Aboriginal genocide?

14 July 2000 - ENIAR media release - Aboriginal leaders will join Australian and British supporters of Aboriginal rights in protests to mark Prime Minister John Howard's London visit.

• Whitehall opposite Downing St from 2-5.15 pm today, Tuesday 4 July, to mark Prime Minister Howard's calls on Chancellor Brown & Prime Minister Blair
• Parliament Square from 2.30 pm tomorrow, Wednesday 5 July, to mark Mr Howard's visit to Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

"Celebration of Federalism for Aboriginal people is a celebration of genocide", says Aboriginal lawyer and activist Michael Anderson.

"Britain's endorsement of the division of powers between Federal and State Governments made possible States' repression of Aboriginal people, which continues today".

Demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, 5 July 2001, to co-incide with the visit of Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, to Prime Minister's Question Time. more photos

ENIAR is a UK-based network of individuals and organisations committed to human rights and social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Aboriginal protest - background

Current and past Australian Prime Ministers, State Premiers and Ministers visit London this week for Australia Week, a programme of events to celebrate the centenary of the UK Act which created the Commonwealth of Australia and gave rise to the Australian Constitution.

Australia's indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples see no cause to celebrate. In one of the world's richest countries, the world's oldest peoples are living and dying in third world conditions.

People are dying

• Life expectancy for Aboriginal men is 19 years less than for than other Australians; for Aboriginal women it is 20 years less.
• Aboriginal people now have the life expectancy of white Australians in 1900.
• Infant mortality for Aboriginal babies is twice as high as for other groups.
• The death rate for Aboriginal children is three to four times higher than other children.
• 30% of Aboriginal families lack an adequate water supply.

Families have been broken up

• Between 1910 and 1970 over 100,000 Aboriginal children were taken forcibly from their families to be brought up in institutions, with lasting effects on children and families

The land has been taken

• Indigenous peoples' title to land was only recognised in the High Court in 1992 and in legislation in 1993.
• Native title rights were severely curtailed by amending legislation passed in 1998.

Genocide alleged

• A Government – appointed enquiry into the 'stolen generations' and the Australian courts have described the effect of successive policies towards Aboriginal people as genocide. Australia is party to the Genocide Convention but has a bipartisan policy not to enact it into domestic law.

UN criticises Australia's human rights record

• Australia was the first Western country to be criticised by UN's Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in 1999 and in March 2000. The Government's response – to review its continued participation in international human rights machinery.

related links

• Old Bill digs up little weed beside Big Ben
• Michael Anderson challenges John Howard

Further information: human rights issues page - includes news index and external links