Our Greatest Challenge: Aboriginal Children and Human Rights - Softcover

McGlade, Hannah

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1922059102 ISBN 13: 9781922059109

Publisher: Aboriginal Studies Press, 2013

Synopsis

Bravely addressing a complex and fraught issue, this book shows non-Aboriginal society’s ignorance of the traumatic impacts of sexual assault on Aboriginal children. It argues that Aboriginal child sexual assault has been formed within the entrenched societal forces of racism, colonization, and patriarchy yet cast in the Australian public domain as an Aboriginal “problem.” Providing detailed analysis of the legal systems response, this volume shows that, while child sexual assault is a criminal offence, the tainted Aboriginal experience of the law prevents the fundamental principle of equality. This discussion also encourages readers to find guidance from indigenous human rights concepts and international responses in order to prevent harming future generations.

About this title

About the Author

Hannah McGlade is a lawyer and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia. She specializes in human rights law and her work has been the subject of many publications and test cases concerning Aboriginal human rights. She is a member of the human rights stream of the Western Australia State Administrative Tribunal and an adjunct researcher at the Curtin Center for Human Rights Education.

Review

"Hannah McGlade is to be congratulated on her courageous, well-researched confirmation that legal and child protection systems are failing (abysmally) to protect Aboriginal children from rape and sexual abuse and, in fact, add to their psychological abuse. This book should be compulsory reading for judges, lawyers, and human service professionals whose work involves children."  —Dr. Freda Briggs AO, University of South Australia

"Hannah McGlade can now count herself as one of the brave Aboriginal women she writes about. . . . Her investigation into the widespread sexual abuse and exploitation of Aboriginal women and children is awe-inspiring."  —Dr. Ailsa M Watkinson, University of Regina

"[A] brave and powerful contribution to understanding a major social evil. . . . McGlade considers the emotional and social costs, the changing legal status, and points to directions to changing the conditions that lead to child sexual abuse."  —Judge's report, 2011 Stanner Award

"I am full of admiration for the work."  —Professor Chris Goddard, director, Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia

Edition details

• Publisher: Aboriginal Studies Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1922059102
• ISBN 13: 9781922059109
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 304