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| UK child migrants sent to Australia sue government over abuse | UK child migrants sent to Australia sue government over abuse |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| More than 100 Britons who were sent abroad as children under a resettlement scheme are to sue the UK government over the abuse they suffered. | More than 100 Britons who were sent abroad as children under a resettlement scheme are to sue the UK government over the abuse they suffered. |
| In March, an inquiry said 2,000 survivors should receive financial compensation within 12 months. | In March, an inquiry said 2,000 survivors should receive financial compensation within 12 months. |
| The victims' lawyer said the government "has a legal responsibility for the harm suffered by those children". | The victims' lawyer said the government "has a legal responsibility for the harm suffered by those children". |
| Between 1945-70, some 4,000 children were separated from their families and sent to Australia and Zimbabwe. | Between 1945-70, some 4,000 children were separated from their families and sent to Australia and Zimbabwe. |
| The Independent Inquiry Into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) considered the children who were forcibly relocated in the post-war period. | The Independent Inquiry Into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) considered the children who were forcibly relocated in the post-war period. |
| A scheme saw children from deprived backgrounds who were often already in social care - some as young as three years old - sent away with the promise of a better life. | A scheme saw children from deprived backgrounds who were often already in social care - some as young as three years old - sent away with the promise of a better life. |
| Overseen by government, and managed by charities and the church, it was part of a longstanding policy aimed at easing the strain on UK orphanages and strengthening the British population abroad. | Overseen by government, and managed by charities and the church, it was part of a longstanding policy aimed at easing the strain on UK orphanages and strengthening the British population abroad. |
| Victims say they went on to be sexually, emotionally and physically abused. | Victims say they went on to be sexually, emotionally and physically abused. |
| Rex Wade was one of the last children to be sent to Australia as part of the programme in 1970. | Rex Wade was one of the last children to be sent to Australia as part of the programme in 1970. |
| At the age of 10, he was shipped from Cornwall with his brother to Tasmania. | At the age of 10, he was shipped from Cornwall with his brother to Tasmania. |
| He says he was subjected to a punitive regime and was treated "cruelly for any misdemeanour", and that his tormentors would set a dog on him and other children if they misbehaved. | He says he was subjected to a punitive regime and was treated "cruelly for any misdemeanour", and that his tormentors would set a dog on him and other children if they misbehaved. |
| "It was physical, verbal and mental abuse," he says. | "It was physical, verbal and mental abuse," he says. |
| "I lost everything I ever had; the relationships I had with my family. It's a lot to deal with and you just don't get over it." | "I lost everything I ever had; the relationships I had with my family. It's a lot to deal with and you just don't get over it." |
| 'They took my childhood' | 'They took my childhood' |
| John Glynn, who was sent to a Christian Brothers institution in Western Australia when he was eight years old, is one of the 100 former migrants to bring the case forward. | John Glynn, who was sent to a Christian Brothers institution in Western Australia when he was eight years old, is one of the 100 former migrants to bring the case forward. |
| At the institution in Clontarf, he was told he was not loved by his family in Britain. Through his seven years with the Christian Brothers he was beaten brutally with a cane, and also sexually abused. | At the institution in Clontarf, he was told he was not loved by his family in Britain. Through his seven years with the Christian Brothers he was beaten brutally with a cane, and also sexually abused. |
| "As I get older it gets worse," the 74-year-old says. | "As I get older it gets worse," the 74-year-old says. |
| "I think about that a lot now. They took my childhood from me. They took my country from me, my heritage." | "I think about that a lot now. They took my childhood from me. They took my country from me, my heritage." |
| The abuse scandal of the British children sent abroad | The abuse scandal of the British children sent abroad |
| By Tom Symonds | By Tom Symonds |
| For several decades, the UK sent children across the world to new lives in institutions where many were abused and used as forced labour. It's a scandal that is still having repercussions now. | For several decades, the UK sent children across the world to new lives in institutions where many were abused and used as forced labour. It's a scandal that is still having repercussions now. |
| Imagine the 1950s, in the years before air travel became commonplace or the internet dominated our lives. Imagine being a child of those times, barely aware of life even in the next town. An orphan perhaps, living in a British children's home. | Imagine the 1950s, in the years before air travel became commonplace or the internet dominated our lives. Imagine being a child of those times, barely aware of life even in the next town. An orphan perhaps, living in a British children's home. |
| Now imagine being told that shortly you would board a ship for somewhere called Australia, to begin a new life in a sunlit wonderland. For good. No choice. | Now imagine being told that shortly you would board a ship for somewhere called Australia, to begin a new life in a sunlit wonderland. For good. No choice. |
| Read the full article here (published February 2017) | Read the full article here (published February 2017) |
| More than 130,000 children were shipped to Commonwealth countries from 1618 until 1970, to countries including Canada, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Australia. | More than 130,000 children were shipped to Commonwealth countries from 1618 until 1970, to countries including Canada, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Australia. |
| The IICSA investigated the final 4,000 children sent to Australia and Zimbabwe. | The IICSA investigated the final 4,000 children sent to Australia and Zimbabwe. |
| It found children suffered sexual and emotional abuse, as well as forced labour. Some were also wrongly told they were orphans, depriving them of the opportunity of meeting their birth parents. | It found children suffered sexual and emotional abuse, as well as forced labour. Some were also wrongly told they were orphans, depriving them of the opportunity of meeting their birth parents. |
| 'Actions, not words' | 'Actions, not words' |
| A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We want to reassure those affected we are committed to providing a timely response to the Inquiry's recommendations." | A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We want to reassure those affected we are committed to providing a timely response to the Inquiry's recommendations." |
| But despite the recommendation in March, the government is yet to set up a compensation scheme for the surviving child migrants. | But despite the recommendation in March, the government is yet to set up a compensation scheme for the surviving child migrants. |
| BBC correspondent Sanchia Berg said many "of the migrants feel time is running out" as most are elderly, and some are frail. | BBC correspondent Sanchia Berg said many "of the migrants feel time is running out" as most are elderly, and some are frail. |
| Since March, 14 of the survivors have died. | Since March, 14 of the survivors have died. |
| Lawyer Alan Collins, who is representing the victims, said: "The government needs to step up to the plate and bring into force its redress scheme. | Lawyer Alan Collins, who is representing the victims, said: "The government needs to step up to the plate and bring into force its redress scheme. |
| "Compensation can never put matters right - that's impossible and it would be insulting to suggest otherwise. | "Compensation can never put matters right - that's impossible and it would be insulting to suggest otherwise. |
| "But it is action, it is a recognition that meets the words that have been spoken by the politicians." | "But it is action, it is a recognition that meets the words that have been spoken by the politicians." |
| In 2010, then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of the British government for sending British children abroad. | In 2010, then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of the British government for sending British children abroad. |
| Labour MP Lisa Nandy has criticised the government's lack of speed in setting up a service to offer financial compensation for victims. | |
| She said: "Over the last six months we've had absolutely nothing - it took us even six weeks to find out which department was responsible [for financial compensation]." | |
| She added the Australian government had successfully put together a commission for compensation a lot sooner, and "enough is enough". |