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December 15, 2017

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Survivors of child abuse: Don’t let it happen again

MORE than 1,000 child sexual abuse survivors published a harrowing “Message to Australia” at the closing of a landmark inquiry yesterday, which revealed thousands of assaults in churches, schools and the army.

The book of survivors’ emotional messages was released to mark the end of a five-year investigation, which heard reports of abuse in more than 4,000 institutions.

“I feel nothing will ever heal my wounds, they are too deep,” one handwritten note said. “Thank you to all at the Commission. To the Government, don't let this happen again.”

The Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse, which started work in 2013, criticized various agencies for failing to act, including the police.

The commission heard that some 1,100 people filed child sexual assault claims against the church, while a bullying culture in the military led to teenage recruits having boot polish smeared on their genitals.

Another survivor wrote: “I have lived with this trauma for my entire life ... Children are innocent. I hope very soon that Pandora’s Box will be closed forever and I am now handing the burden over.”




 

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