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Nz and Other Former Colonies in Spotlight at British Inquiry into Historic Child Sex Abuse

Stuff
February 27, 2017

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/89867702/nz-in-spotlight-at-delayed-british-inquiry-into-historic-crimes

Revelations of abuse by former BBC personality Jimmy Savile sparked the inquiry.

Britain's inquiry into historical child sex abuse, dogged by problems since it was launched three years ago and leading to the resignation of three chairmen, has finally begun holding its first public hearings.

On Monday, the inquiry began hearing evidence about those who suffered sexual abuse resulting from British child migration programmes in which thousands of youngsters, many in state care, were sent out to former colonies such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Zimbabwe.

The multi-million pound inquiry has been riven by setbacks since it began in the aftermath of 2012 revelations that the late former BBC TV presenter Jimmy Savile was one of Britain's most prolific sex abusers.

Justice Lowell Goddard quit as the inquiry's chair last year.

The first three figures appointed to lead the investigations stepped down, the latest being New Zealand High Court Justice Lowell Goddard, who resigned last August. The following month, its most senior lawyer also quit.

In 2010, then-British prime minister Gordon Brown apologised for the "shameful" policy which operated between 1930 and 1970 and led to an estimated 130,000 children being sent abroad from orphanages and other institutions, often without their parents knowledge.

The programme was meant to address labour shortages, but many children suffered abuse.

The inquiry, one of its largest and most expensive ever undertaken, was set up in July 2014 by now-Prime Minister Theresa May in her former role as interior minister after a series of shocking abuse scandals dating back decades, some involving celebrities and politicians.

It was expected to take some five years to complete.

In a number of cases, victims said institutions had actively covered up cases at the behest of powerful establishment figures including senior lawmakers, spies and police officers.

The current chairman was social care expert Alexis Jay, who oversaw a 2014 investigation into wrongdoing in the northern English town of Rotherham which revealed some 1400 children had been abused.

"This is an important day for the work of the inquiry," Jay said.

"Today marks ... the opening of the first public hearing in which the inquiry will hear live and read evidence from complainants."

The inquiry would examine abuse at institutions including churches, schools and council bodies across Britain and would also consider whether allegations were covered up by police or politicians.

Critics said its scope was too wide, making it impossible to work effectively, while victims, many of whom have waited decades to tell their story, fear that the crimes they suffered will again be covered up by the establishment.

 

 

 

 

 




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