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Child abuse in institutions: ‘member states must recognise the suffering inflicted to past and present victims, and set up reparation measures’

©Simone Padovani

“We must never turn a blind eye to the abuse of children, whether they have been victims of sexual predators, gratuitous violence or ill-treatment in public, private or religious institutions that are supposed to be safe havens,” today said Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), the newly elected Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, opening a conference in Strasbourg today on child abuse in institutions in Europe. She paid a special tribute to the survivors “who had the courage to participate, to speak and each time tell their stories, not for sensationalism but to sensitise the public at large”.

She underlined that it was crucial that member states recognise the suffering inflicted and offer appropriate care for its effects, issue an official apology to past and present victims, and ensure the prosecution of the authors of such crimes without a statute of limitations. She also encouraged the authorities “to create places of remembrance of institutional mistreatment”. Finally, Ms Kluit highlighted the importance to implement Assembly’s adopted texts at national levels, and different stakeholders to share best practice.

This conference was part of the follow-up to the report of Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC), which calls for the recognition of child abuse in institutions across Europe and, drawing on Switzerland's example of good practice, advocates full reparation for all violence committed against children, including sexual abuse, physical violence and ill-treatment in public, private and religious institutions. “Beyond the physical aggression in childhood, the fact that there is no recognition is an aggression,” Mr Fridez said.

Alfred Heer (Switzerland, ALDE), Chairperson of the Swiss delegation to PACE, spoke about the political process that took place in Switzerland to guarantee support for victims. “Nothing was taken for granted, and this process was able to succeed thanks to a federal popular initiative that collected 110,000 signatures and was transmitted to and debated in the Swiss Parliament”, he explained. “This initiative won a majority vote, and from now on, victims of abuse are entitled to compensation, reparation and an apology from the Swiss state for the harm they have suffered,” he added.

“We cannot go back on what happened, but we must recognise that these children have been treated unfairly and that their childhood and future have been stolen,” Mr Herr said.

“People, who experienced abuse are disadvantaged throughout their lives. Not only are they physically marked, but the psychological scars also never heal either. Lack of self-esteem, interrupted school careers, difficulties at work, poverty, depression, self-harm, broken family relationships, suicide attempts : these are the consequences of abuse into old age,” said Guido Fluri, President of Justice Initiative, evoking the victims. “The stories are different. The suffering of survivors is always immense,” he added.

Mr Fluri also described the successful initiatives launched in Switzerland to raise awareness among politicians and the general public, and calling for official recognition of the injustice, scientific investigation of the abuse cases and some form of reparation for the survivors, now making Switzerland a role model.

Several victims gave their testimonies of the suffering they had endured and the consequences for their lives.

This event was organised by the PACE Committee on Social Affairs in collaboration with the Swiss delegation to PACE and the Guido Fluri Foundation.

©Simone Padovani
©Simone Padovani