UN Alarmed at Number of Indigenous Kids in Care System

Too many Aboriginal kids are coming into contact with the criminal justice system and being removed from their families in Western Australia (WA), according to an international human rights delegation. The United Nations (UN) Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has made a series of recommendations to the WA government, following a visit to Perth, Albany, and Geraldton in October, at the invitation of the Noongar Family Safety and Wellbeing Council. The UN body has advised that WA raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10, establish a dedicated First Nations children’s commissioner and expand the Dandjoo-Bidi-ak (together on a path), a specialised therapeutic court being piloted at Perth’s Children’s Court....