Australia apologized to the Aborigines

The Australian government official apologies for the indigenous population of the continent for the policy of the former leaders of the country. According to the Air Force, the recently headed Australian cabinet Kevin Ruud made an official statement during a special meeting of the parliament.

“We apologize for the legislative acts and the policy of all previous governments and parliaments that have caused deep pain and suffering to our brothers to the Australians,” the statement approved by Australian lawmakers said. “We ask for forgiveness from fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters for destroyed families and communities. We ask for forgiveness for humiliation and decline, which was subjected to a noble culture And her worthy people. "

Ruud said that the decision of the parliament is only the first step to correct errors of the past. He also mentioned the "stolen generations", as the indigenous inhabitants of Australia are called, who, from the 19th century to the end of the 1960s, were separated from their parents as part of a policy of violent assimilation and sent to their white families and state institutions.

None of the members of the Australian Parliament belongs to the number of indigenous people of Australia, however, 100 tribal leaders and representatives of the "lost generations" were attended at the ceremony. Before the performance of the Prime Minister, representatives of one of the tribes of the indigenous residents of Australia held a ceremony in the parliament building, who are usually welcomed by those who come to the country.

However, many leaders of the indigenous Australians are unhappy that the statements of parliament and government are not supplemented by compensation payments.

The previous Australian Prime Minister John Hauard refused to make official apology to the indigenous population of Australia. According to public opinion polls, this position is supported by about a third of the country's population. However, the ruling liberal party recently revised its position on this subject and decided to bring official apologies to the Aborigines.

Kevin Radd’s office curled up to reduce the 17-year gap in the average life expectancy between the indigenous and unresolved Australians, as well as in 10 years to reduce the number of children's deaths among the natives.

460 thousand natives live in Australia, which is about 2 percent of the country's population. This group is the least socially-wound: the indigenous Australians have a high level of unemployment, their communities are very high in children's mortality, alcoholism and drug addiction.