Recently, in the USA, separation of children from parents by the Administration’s zero tolerance policy at the Mexican border is fervently discussed and a partial climb down was forced by public opinion and courts. It reminds us of some past and present similar deeds in the world. The Nazis of Germany advocated and carried out separation and killing of children of the so called “unwanted and dangerous groups” (Jews and Gypsies) as well as disabled children in conformity with their ideology. It has been estimated that 1.5 million children were killed by them.
Australian Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families by Federal and State Government agencies under acts of their respective parliaments until the 1970s. They were trucked to mission schools where they were forced to forget their culture, language and original name. Some of them were sexually exploited and even killed. In Canada, similar practices were rampant to round up native (First Nations’) children and take them away from their parents in residential schools funded by the government. After six years of investigation, in June 2015 “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” concluded widespread physical, cultural and sexual abuse of those children and at least 3,201 of them died while attending schools.
Also, the USA had similar practice for Native American children. The children were typically immersed in European-American culture through forced changes that removed indigenous cultural signifiers at the schools. These methods included being compelled to have European-American style haircuts, being forbidden to speak their language, having their real name replaced by European name. The experience at the schools for the children was usually harsh and often deadly. Currently millions of foreign workers in petro-dollar rich countries are stuck for years without seeing their children. Their passports are taken away by the employers and not allowed home visits. Isn’t this a form of slavery? Does any human rights organization or government have the tenacity to tackle this cruelty?
Narsibhai Patel
New Malden
