Changing Rights and Freedoms Flashcards
When was the United Nations formed
it was officially established on the 24th October 1945
why was the UN formed
After World war 2, its victors were planning a new international organisation- the UN that would create conditions for world peace and security. They wanted to prevent the disregard for human rights that allowed the wars cruelties to occur
how many founding members were there of the UN
51 and Australia was one of them
what was the UDHR
the document sought to ‘record a common understanding’ of the rights and freedoms that people and nations should recognise, observe and protect
who was Doctor Evatt
Doctor Evatt played an extremely important role and contribution in the process of the UDHR.
What did Doctor Evatt do
From April to June of 1945 he leg Australia’s delegation to the meetings held at San Francisco. These were the conferences formed to establish the UN’s mandate and charter. He also made sure that smaller nations would agree and adopt the proposals made. He fought for and organised the participation of smaller nations in discussions and decisions that would underpin the Un. He succeeded in doing this and increased the powers of the general assembly.
Significance of the Udhr
the UDHR was significant as it marked a pivotal moment in recognising everybody’s rights as a human being. It provided a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.
what does UDHR stand for
Universal declaration of human rights
Terra Nullius definition
land belonging to no-one
Terra Nullius and Australia
According to 18th century law Australia was legally taken and settled by Captain Cook in 1788. Historians continue to argue this idea of settlement or invasion.
what are we asked to consider when talking about Australia’s settlement
we are asked to consider the aboriginal perspective, which was a key motivator in the aboriginal activism. In terms of arguing this point to be untrue.
assimilation defintion
a policy that forces people to conform to the attitudes, customs and beliefs of the majority of the population.
what did assimilation mean for indigenous australians
This meant that aboriginal people who were ‘not of full blood’ would conform to the white majority
when was assimilation introduced
after a 1937 conference on aboriginal affairs, the federal government introduced the policy of assimilation
what encouraged a new phase of the aboriginal peoples fight for rights
the assimilation policy and the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of British arrival
what was the 150th anniversary celebration considered as by the indigenous Australians
the 26th January 1938 was considered as a day to mourn instead of celebration
what day was the day of mourning
26th January 1938
what happened on the day of mourning
on this day aboriginal people were brought together to protest and mourn. it began with a march from Sydney town hall to the Australian hall in Elizabeth street. Here they demanded ‘ a new policy which will raise our people to full citizen status and equality within the community’. They issued a manifesto describing the situation of the aboriginal people and their expectations for change.
What happened at the day of mourning pt 2
Prime minister Joe Lyons met and listened to a 10 point plan outlining ways the government could achieve justice for aboriginal people. The prime minister states that the constitution did not allow the government to take control of aboriginal affairs
did the day of mourning achieve its goals
the protest did not achieve its main goals. However, what it did do was unite aboriginal people in a formal gathering demanding their civil rights as well as it made australians think about the appropriateness of the 26th January as a celebration.
What rights and freedoms were denied to aboriginals and torres strait islanders
deciding where they could live and work
limiting their access to their own wages
forbidding them the right to practise their own traditions
limiting their access to education
taking their children
denying them the rights to which other australians were entitled
what is kinship
special bonds that link an individual to the extended family group. This includes respect for elders, understanding of the dreaming through the support of family members and role models especially for the younger members.
By the late 1980s…
more than 100,000 people of aboriginal and torres strait islander descent had lost their family links, their understanding of kinship and their culture
what was the stolen genration
Aboriginal and torres strait islanders children who as children were separated from their families, usually by force by the government.
when did the stolen generation begin
right from 1788 but began occurring more systematically towards the late 19th century and late 20th century
how did stealing aboriginal children begin occurring systematically
the government:
created laws to allow them to do thus
established protection boards to administer this policy
gave power to police to implement the policy
took over from parents their roles as their children’s legal guardians
wards of the state defintion
In law, a ward is someone placed under the protection of a legal guardian.
this is ironic
who did the government target with the stolen genration
they targeted mixed race children so that the aboriginal race would eventually ‘die out’
what was the irony of the stolen generation and the government
the irony of the government’s duty to protect its inhabitants but instead the apathy and disrespect shown towards the indigenous australians was made evident through the treatment of the indigenous Australians, especially in regards to the stolen generation
institutions, adoptions and fostering:
from the 1950’s onwards in order to save money the government began to place more and more children into these places. Here they were commonly severely mistreated, abused physically, mentally and sexually
the kinchela boys home
it was considered one of the worst homes
irony of the word home
here they learnt a basic education, farming and basic manual labour
discipline was strict, treatment was harsh and punishment was severe
home definition
the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.
examples of kinchela boys home mistreatment
if a boy finished his morning work late he would not be provided with breakfast
when was the bringing them home report wittin
1997
what was the bringing them home report
the australian report of the national inquiry into the separation of indigenous children from their families. In the report it included personal stories of some of the horrors suffered by the victims of the stolen generation. The report took evidence form 535 people.
what did the bringing them home mark
it marked a pivotal moment in the controversy that has come to be known as the stolen generation.
experiences ( taught to reject their culture)
” my dark complexion was a problem”
Paul’s story
experiences
psychologically abused physically abused sexually abused taught to reject their culture seperated from parents wards of the state reasons for why they were taken were faked tricked into giving up their children
experiences (reasons for taken were faked
“Mother is unable to provide adequate care of her son”
Paul’s story
experiences (wards of the state)
Paul’s story
“For 18 years, the state of Victoria referred to me as state ward no 54321”
Experiences (tricked into giving up their children”
Paul’s story
“ the social welfare department of the Royal childrens hospital persuaded my mother to board me into st gabriels babies home”
experiences (seperated from parents)
Paul’s story
“My mother never gave up trying to locate me”
John quote
“we’ll always be prisoner while our files are in archives”
the government needs to let them find their identity
kinchella boys home
how many people over 50 were removed from their families
1/7
australian institute of health and welfare
