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  Cornwall Inquiry Commissioner Announces Healing Projects

Ottawa Citizen [Canada]
March 29, 2007

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=e8081657-422d-4d7a-b35c-029811ac3cd1&k=17452

The commissioner of the Cornwall Public Inquiry has announced a series of practical research projects aimed at fostering healing in Cornwall.

The projects are to operate in parallel with the inquiry into reports of systemic child sex abuse, which is expected to run until early 2008.

Judge Normand Glaude posted a proposed research agenda on the commission's website and invited submissions. Proposals were reviewed by an advisory panel which made recommendations to the commissioner.

"People want activities they see as practical and likely to make a difference in the future," said Judge Glaude in a statement Thursday. "This is why you will see a focus on education and pragmatic activities and less on traditional academic research."

Among the projects in the announcement:

• A review of the legal and ethical implications of apologies to gain a clear understanding of what are real barriers – and what are not – to be carried out by Leslie Macleod, a lawyer and mediator who currently teaches at Osgoode Hall Law School.

• A project to look at the issue of male victims of childhood abuse who go on to become abusers with the goal of developing a model for appropriate victim and perpetrator services. This is to be carried out by the Circle of Support and Accountability sponsored by the Anglican St. John the Evangelist Church.

• Mentorship training and support involving community members who are willing to act as mentors to adults who have a history of childhood sexual abuse. The program will involve training a core group of volunteers as mentors and self-help facilitators in Cornwall. This will be offered by The Gatehouse, a non-profit organization with a mentorship program in Toronto.

• A series of broad-based, educational workshops for professionals and members of the public including training on intake, receiving and tracking of the history of adults' disclosure of child abuse.

• A public forum focusing on understanding the investigation of child sexual abuse to be provided by The Gatehouse.

As well, there is to be training in a number of areas including male sexual victimization; addressing the needs of those suffering from trauma; group therapy for trauma victims for mental health practitioners, self-care for trauma workers and training for professionals working with abusive or violent men. This to be provided by the Men's Project, a non-profit group experienced in training. The sessions will be offered free of charge.

 
 

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