The program was developed in response to Breaking the
Silence, a 300 page report commissioned by the Attorney General and written by
a task force headed by Aboriginal leader, Marcia Ella-Duncan.
The report found that child abuse in Aboriginal communities
had reached “epidemic proportions,” with child sexual assault up to four times
the rate of the general population.
Although the Government approach to Breaking the Silence
makes a lot of sense, without any new funds it’s doomed to fail.
It seems both the NSW Government and Opposition have refused
to provide the much needed funds because these are Aboriginal children at risk
and they think that not enough voters will care.
With your help, ANTaR is hoping to show them they’re
wrong. We’re urging people to contact
their local MP’s and candidates to tell them that Aboriginal children are
important and how we vote will be influenced by which candidates are prepared
to fight for the much needed resources to ensure the response to Breaking the
Silence succeeds.
If you follow the link below you can obtain further
information, draft letters, hints on meeting with politicians and briefing
notes to help you make contact with your local candidates:
http://www.antar.org.au/action/stop_NSW_child_abuse
If you don’t live in NSW we’re asking you to write to
Premier Morris Iemma about this issue.
Please help us with this action and pass this email on to
anyone you think might be interested.
Thanks
Gary
Highland
National Director
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR)
PH
– 02 9555 6138