‘Roadmap’ For Addressing Justice For Victims – Religions for Peace Australia

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse today released a paper outlining its approach to examining the scope of justice for victims, ‘Justice for Victims: Addressing or Alleviating the Impact of Child Sexual Abuse in Institutions’.

The Royal Commission’s examination of the scope of justice for victims will cover:

* civil litigation and redress/compensation schemes
* the criminal justice system
* past inquiries, the regulatory system and advocacy bodies

Along with this paper, the Royal Commission has also released Issues Paper 5 on Civil Litigation and is inviting members of the public to contribute ideas and expertise on the best ways to ensure justice for victims through redress.

Royal Commission CEO Janette Dines said civil litigation is one of the ways in which victims may bring a claim for damages against the institution where they were abused.

“Through our private sessions, we have already heard from many people about the impact of the sexual abuse they suffered as children, and their difficult experiences throughout the civil litigation process.

“Our Terms of Reference require us to inquire into what institutions and governments should do to address or alleviate the impact of child sexual abuse, particularly through the provision of redress.

“We invite interested individuals, government and non-government organisations to tell us their views on the effectiveness of civil litigation as a mechanism for providing redress or compensation.

“Other means of redress, such as statutory victims’ compensation schemes and schemes established by governments or institutions, will be considered in separate Issues Papers,” Ms Dines said.

Organisations and individuals wishing to respond to Issues Paper 5 have until 17 March 2014 to lodge a submission.

The Royal Commission intends to hold a public forum into the matters raised in Issues Paper 5 in 2014. The submissions received will help to determine the agenda for that forum.