Gillard apologises for forced adoptions
Reuters
2013-03-21
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Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has apologised to the nation for the practice of forced adoptions during a ceremony in Canberra on Thursday.
From 1950-1970, children of unwed mothers, or of those deemed 'unfit' for motherhood, were forcibly taken and adopted out to married couples.
Audience members were visiably moved by the Prime Minister's statements.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JULIA GILLARD PRIME MINISTER SAYING:
"We know you have suffered enduring effects from these practices forced on you by others for the loss, the grief, the disempowerment, the stigmatisation and the guilt, we say sorry."
The practice saw some 150,000 children removed from their biological mothers.
From 1950-1970, children of unwed mothers, or of those deemed 'unfit' for motherhood, were forcibly taken and adopted out to married couples.
Audience members were visiably moved by the Prime Minister's statements.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JULIA GILLARD PRIME MINISTER SAYING:
"We know you have suffered enduring effects from these practices forced on you by others for the loss, the grief, the disempowerment, the stigmatisation and the guilt, we say sorry."
The practice saw some 150,000 children removed from their biological mothers.
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