BRITAIN SAYS SORRY TO CHILD MIGRANTS SENT TO THE COLONIES

March 2010

APN Newsletter

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said sorry to thousands of people who were sent as children to the colonies. It is estimated 150,000 youngsters from poor families were shipped off to a supposedly "better life" in countries including Australia and Canada. The former child migrants have told how on arrival they were separated from their siblings, and put into foster homes, state-run orphanages and religious institutions. Others were educated only for farm work. Many were subjected to brutal physical and sexual abuse by those who were meant to be caring for them.

The Prime Minister told the Commons the scheme - which ran until the 1960s - was misguided, and ruined lives. He also announced the creation of a £6 million fund aimed at restoring families torn apart by the programme. Forty survivors flew to London to listen to Mr Brown's statement given in the House of Commons, and meet him afterwards at an event in Westminster.

Kathleen Griffin the author of 'The Forgiveness Formula' explained why the announcement was so badly needed:“Symbolically it is very important, as obviously Gordon Brown himself had no part in this abuse, but he is apologising on behalf of the British government and that is very important to say we did this and it was wrong. It will help people move on.” Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addressed a similar gathering of 1,000 victims known as the "Forgotten Australians" in Canberra last year saying sorry to the thousands of British migrants who were abused.