AUSTRALIA
SRF
An official investigation of the Australian justice has brought frightening facts to light. Between 1980 and 2015, 4’444 children were sexually abused by Catholic clergy in Australia. On average the affected girls were one and a half years old and the affected boys were eleven and a half years old. SRF Australia correspondent Urs Wälterlin on the background of the investigation.
SRF News: What was the reason for this investigation? Was there a big case?
Urs Wälterlin: No, it was a slow process. There were always accusations of survivors and investigations, but not to this extent. The now published study is a state investigation, a so-called Royal Commission. It is managed at the highest level of the Australian justice system. Unfortunately – it must be said – it was worth it. 4500 cases of sexual abuse of children in the last thirty years in more than 1000 church institutions have been documented. They are churches, boarding schools, homes or other Catholic institutions.
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.