Categories: lord-have-mercy, australia
Date: 15 June 2007 13:52:42
[derived from the Arrandic languages of the Central Desert Region of the Northern Territory]
Little Children are Sacred, a report released today, showing that "Child sex abuse is happening in many Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and a lack of education and an abundance of alcohol is to blame." I heard about it via ABC's Lateline programme tonight, and my heart dropped and my stomach churned.
A terrible, terrible situation: in any area and any culture. But, when I look at the state of our Indigenous peoples' health and welfare in particular, things are in such a terrible state: we, being Australia, are truly horrifically and embarrassingly behind other nations.
Please pray that people from all areas, community leaders, communities, as well as politicians at local, state and federal levels, take the recommendations seriously, and that, furthermore, something may be done about the dire situation, in all aspects, of our Aborginal and Torres Straight Islander population. Lord, have mercy.