The stolen generation

The stolen generation is a term used to describe those children of Astralian Aboriginal descent who were removed from their families by the Australian government agencies and church missions, under various acts of their respective parliaments, denying the rights of parents and children by making Aboriginal children wards of the state, between approximately 1869 and 1969.

Typically, children who were removed were placed into foster care or into orphanages and similar institutions. Some of them suffered sexual abuse. No consensus has been reached as to the extent of the removal of children, and the reasoning behind their removal. While in some quarters it has been suggested that a eugenics policy was adopted, in others the removals were said to be done for the well-being of the children. The term " Stolen generations " is still controversial in Australia.

The members of the Stolen Generations were victims of a policy that continued till the end of the Sixties, under which thousands of aboriginal children were removed from their parents. The early aimed was to civilize them, to inculcate them with European values and to breed out their color. No wonder the policy has been called the most shameful act of the 20th century Australia.

...