We acknowledge that the people of the world have shown in different ways an
urgent need to address profound social
problems, especially poverty, unemployment and social exclusion, that
affect every country.
recognize that the
problems affecting Aboriginal juveniles are so widespread and have such potentially disastrous repercussions for the future that there is an
urgent need for governments and Aboriginal organizations to negotiate together to devise strategies designed to reduce the rate at which Aboriginal juveniles are involved in the welfare and criminal justice systems, and, in particular, to reduce the rate at which Aboriginal juveniles are separated from their families or communities, whether by being declared to be in need of care, detained, imprisoned or otherwise.