Manny Waks Speaks out for Victims of Abuse at Royal Commission

By Andrea Kellett
Herald Sun
October 10, 2013

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/central/manny-waks-speaks-out-for-victims-of-abuse-at-royal-commission/story-fngnvlpt-1226736561518

Manny Waks has delivered on a promise to continue holding Jewish institutions to account for their handling of alleged child sexual abuse. Picture: Derrick Den Hollander. Source: News Limited

Manny Waks has delivered on a promise to continue holding Jewish institutions to account for their handling of alleged child sexual abuse. Picture: Derrick Den Hollander. Source: News Limited

HIGH-PROFILE Jewish victims' advocate Manny Waks has delivered on a promise to continue holding Jewish institutions to account for their handling of alleged child sexual abuse.

He spent two hours before the Federal Government's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on Tuesday, in his capacity as Tzedek chief executive.

Tzedek is an advocacy group for Jewish victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

Mr Waks promised to present at the commission after the high-profile case of former Yeshivah College teacher David Kramer was resolved in July.

Kramer was sentenced in the County Court to three years and four months jail for indecently assaulting four boys while teaching at the St Kilda East school between 1989 and 1991.

Mr Waks posted a Facebook message on his way to his private session, promising to be the voice of victims and survivors in the community.

That message prompted a storm of support.

``I can assure you all of one thing; after years (and in many cases decades) of silence, your voice will definitely be heard loud and clear,'' Mr Waks posted.

His father, Zephaniah Waks, also spent two hours at the commission on the same day where he told Commissioner Justice Jennifer Coate he had been shunned for supporting his son.

Manny Waks said most of his time at the hearing was spent discussing Melbourne's Yeshivah Centre.

"I am trying to provide a compelling case study to the commission so they will consider holding further investigations and a public hearing into the Yeshivah Centre Melbourne,'' he said.

The Federal Government established the six-member Royal Commission in January to investigate institutional responses to child sexual abuse.

The commissioners are looking at how institutions have managed and responded to allegations and instances of child sexual abuse and make recommendations on what needs to be improved.

An interim report is expected by June 30 next year.