Kevin Rudd's Sorry Speech: A Historical Landmark for Indigenous Australians
A Decade of Reconciliation
The National Apology Day
On February 13, 2008, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered the landmark "Sorry Speech" to formally apologize to Indigenous Australians for the Stolen Generations, a government policy that forcibly removed thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families over several decades.
The Stolen Generations Inquiry
Rudd's apology was the culmination of years of inquiry into the devastating effects of the Stolen Generations. The Bringing Them Home Report, released in 1997, documented the widespread trauma and suffering endured by these children, who were often placed in institutions or with non-Indigenous families.
A Movement for Reconciliation
The campaign to spread awareness and support for a national apology had been gaining momentum for years. First Nations peoples and their supporters had worked tirelessly to build understanding and empathy among the broader Australian community.
The 10th Anniversary
February 13, 2018, marked the 10th anniversary of National Apology Day. The milestone served as a reminder of the significance of the Sorry Speech and the ongoing journey towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
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