At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we are meeting on here today the Tharawal people. I acknowledge their ancient and continuing cultures, and the role they play in the life of this region. I also acknowledge those gone before us and those here today, who have suffered at the hands of assimilation policies.
The first is that the title UNFINISHED BUSINESS happens to be the title of a book in whose authorship I have collaborated. The book's title is UNFINISHED BUSINESS : SOUTH AFRICA, APARTHEID AND TRUTH. You can order the book from a website, details of which you can get from Terry Bell at belnews@wn.apc.org. For every book purchased, the author and I have agreed a free copy will be donated to an NGO.
The French version of this speech is available from the offices of the Law Commission of Canada, 473 Albert Street, 11th floor, Ottawa, K1A 0H8, and will be available on the web site www.cdc.gc.ca.ù
Tena koutou katoa. I have no expert knowledge of the legal or political context in Australia insofar as it applies to indigenous peoples here and even less on the issue of the controversial topic of the stolen generations. It would be utterly inappropriate therefore for me to express any view on the issues particular to this country. What I can do is talk to you a little bit about the process used for investigation into indigenous grievances in New Zealand, the outcomes of such investigations and the considerations which are brought to bear in the process.
Firstly, with respect I acknowledge that I am here on the Country of the Tharawal People and I say thank you to Marg Cook and other Tharawal members for their warm welcome to participants of this conference on Reparations. A special welcome to my Stolen Generation brothers and sisters and to Commissioner Brian Butler, ATSIC's Social Justice Commissioner who has for many years worked tirelessly for the national inquiry and continues to support the Stolen Generations and their families in so many different ways.
Welcome to Conference. Thank you for warm welcome, Marjie Cook, and for the opportunity to gather on your land over the next two days to consider the critical issues of identity and justice for the Stolen Generations.
We make this statement in our capacity as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission and as a Commissioner of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. Our National Human Rights Commissions are established in compliance with the ‘Paris Principles Relating to the Status and Functions of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights’ in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 48/134 of 1993.
Can I begin by thanking the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum as well as the Division for Public Administration and Development Management for the invitation to participate in this panel today.
Can I begin by thanking Pam Kraft of the Tribal Link Foundation for the invitation to participate in this roundtable today to discuss issues relating to Indigenous People and the private sector.
Before I begin, the IPO Network of Australia welcomes the proposed visit by the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to discuss extractive industries and their relationship with the State and Indigenous peoples in Australia.
