Indigenous children feel they lack human rights: report

By Allyson Horn

A report on Indigenous children has found young people in Alice Springs feel they lack basic human rights.

The Listen To Children Report, co-chaired by UNICEF, spoke to children around the nation, including in Alice Springs town camps and the juvenile centre.

Sarah Hoff talked to more than 50 children in the central Australian town.

She says she found discrimination and a lack of night time activities were some of the children's biggest concerns.

Ms Hoff says it is time governments started listening to children about how to improve human rights.

"First and foremost, listen to the children," she said.

"Instead of these knee-jerk reactions and the focusing on the negative, and on the crime wave, talk to the children.

"See what it is that they want, what it is that they think would make Alice Springs a better place to be.

"But the most important part is not in the asking of questions, it is in the listening to answers."

Ms Hoff says Indigenous children in Alice Springs continue to be the target of racism.

"The government, I would say, has some good intentions," she said.

"There is a recognition that something has to be done."


(2011-7-6/ABC News)