Australia's "Stolen Generations" were a group of children who, between 1869 and the 1970s, were removed from their families by the Australian government. Legislation made all aboriginal children wards of the state.

Aboriginal children, mostly mixed-race, were taken from their families in an effort to eradicate their culture. Proponents of the government's actions say it protected abused and neglected children. The children were not allowed to speak their native languages or have contact with their families. Some children were sent to boarding schools; others were adopted into white families.

On February 13, 2008, Australian prime minister Paul Rudd made a formal apology to Australia's Aborigine population for the government's actions in taking children away from them. Rudd called the government's actions a "stain on the nation's soul".Voice of America: Australia Apologizes to Aborigines (February 13, 2008)

• YouTube: Kevin Rudd apologises to the Aboriginal Stolen Generation (Time 1:53)