Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse: Banners said 'You have the records of our abuse'
VICTIMS of child sex abuse wept openly in the street as the Royal Commission commenced its long-awaited hearing this morning. More than 20 advocates wielding placards rallied outside the County Court in Melbourne as The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse commenced its long-awaited inquiry.
Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse commenced its long-awaited inquiry.
Victims gathered descended outside the court eagerly awaiting the outcome of the first hour-long hearing, some armed with signs which read: “You have the records of our abuse” and “Government OK’S abuse in state-run orphanages”.
Victims, organisations and advocates poured onto William St following the hearing, with some openly embracing and others appearing teary-eyed by the emotion of the inquiry’s launch.
Leonie Sheedy of the Care Leavers of Australia Network (CLAN) – a network for people raised in the nation’s orphanages, Children’s Homes and foster care - said the first day of proceedings had been “overwhelming” for the organisation’s members.
“The crimes our country is taking the crimes that were committed against children in orpha...
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
Showing 1 comment
How sad. How sad, that so many evil pedophile prediators exist in this world. I’m glad to be made aware that the Australian government is (apparently, “finally”) beginning to address this issue in their own state-run and/or state-sponsored orphanages and foster homes. I shudder to think what our own U.S. systems are like.
I will try to maintain hope that taking on the institutionalized pedophilia and pedophiles heretofore allowed “free range and passage” in the universal Catholic church, will in fact, create awareness and proper reaction and response around the world, in other institutions, schools, churches and state-run facilities originally intended to be beneficial for children!
Please SNAP members, stay with the hard and difficult course you have initiated with the Catholic church, specifically. I do pray for your success.
Thank you for all your work and maintenance of this site and the bishop-listing site.
Lani Halter