After the pain is the punishment

AUSTRALIA
Telegraph

DECADES of pain and torment are set to be revealed with the first steps in the government’s royal commission into institutionalised child sex abuse.

Thousands of childhood abuse victims are preparing for the hopefully liberating process of explaining the crimes they endured.

As stressful as this will be, the challenge of giving evidence does not compare to the ordeals many have already suffered. These Australians remain physically and emotionally scarred by the cruelty inflicted upon them and their numbers are such that the royal commission will continue for years.

The commission’s first task is to listen, but listening will not be enough. Beyond the gathering of evidence and the agonies of revelation, action is required.

This will be the true test of the royal commission. While even the hearing of victims is to be applauded, this will be undercut unless it is supported by a meaningful legal response.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.