Australia--UN committee prods Australian government on sex crimes
For immediate release Friday, November 28
Statement by Nicky Davis, SNAP Australia Director, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, +61 422 538 440, [email protected]
UN Committee prods Australian government on sex crimes
Victims’ group applauds UN Committee
For decades, Australian society has looked the other way while many thousands of innocent children suffered in terrified silence, not just for an entire childhood, but often an entire lifetime.
Now that the UN Committee Against Torture is focusing on this issue, Australian survivors finally have real hope for real change.
The recommendations give a clear direction to the Australian Government that the current Royal Commission must be properly supported in order to do its job.
The Committee highlights Australia’s obligations under the Convention and points that it will not be met by an inquiry which is only allowed to investigate partial evidence referring to Cardinal Pell’s refusal to turn over evidence to the Royal Commission.
While victims are grateful for the work the Royal Commission has accomplished so far this report provides new hope as it underscores that allegations are to be “… promptly, impartially, thoroughly and effectively investigated and perpetrators brought to justice and, if found responsible, punished in accordance with the gravity of their acts.”
It also highlights that survivors are entitled to not only full justice but redress, too.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected]) Nicky Davis, SNAP Australia Leader, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, +61 422 538 440, [email protected], Peter Isely (414-429-7259, [email protected]) Mary Caplan (917-439-4187 [email protected] )
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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