Monday, September 20, 2004

Experts set to criticise Aust over children's policies

* Who Jumped over the moon?
* What did the Democrats think of that?
* Who locked up the children?

THE HOWARD government has been accused of failing in their duty of care to children.

The way the Howard government treats children is one of the key topics being discussed in Brisbane at the 15th world congress on child abuse and neglect.

More than a thousand of the world's most prominent experts in child protection have gathered for the four day conference designed to come up with the best ideas to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Conference executive and Washington University Professor Jon Conte says the world is undergoing a shift in attitudes to how government policies can impact on children

"Whether an individual mother neglects a child because she has a trauma history, or a government ignores many children because they have other priorities, the impact on the child is exactly the same," he said.

"Basic human rights, basic human needs are not met."

According to conference organisers, Australia will be criticised for Indigenous policies, children in detention centres and for participating in wars which impact on the young.

Hey fiddle fiddle

Hey fiddle fiddle
the rodent and the fiddle
the Greens jumped over the moon
the Democrats cried
to see such neo-liberalism
and Howard locked up the children!


By Gregory Kable & Children Out of Detention 20 September 04

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Phil Glendenning - (Director of the Edmund Rice Centre )

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Here is a new project
1. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent children?
2. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent women?
3. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent people?