Over several years, Religions for Peace Australia has provided a select coverage the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse as a service to the community documenting the examination – and responses – of non-Christian religions. No religion in Australia is above criminal law and the proper exercise of lawful duty and responsibility in the public domain. In this wise, we bring account of one Buddhist Rinpoche and allegations – albeit in another nation – as part of community service.
Royal Commission
Royal Commission: Research finds misconceptions about memory may affect child sexual abuse prosecutions
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a new research report about how memory affects child sexual abuse prosecutions.
Research identifies four dimensions of risk of child sexual abuse in institutional settings
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a new research report that identifies four dimensions of risk of child sexual abuse in institutional settings.
Royal Commission: Address to National Council of Churches
Every major Australian church has been cautioned to better protect children or risk illegitimacy. In a speech to the National Council of Churches, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse chairman Justice Peter McClellan urged religious leaders to act on his recommendations.
“What we can be certain of is that any institution which does not acknowledge past wrongs and the need for change will lose the confidence of Australians,” he said via a recorded video.
“The community will not accept the legitimacy of any institution which does not give priority to the safety and wellbeing of the children for which it has responsibility.”
Royal Commission: Justice for Victims Part 1
Religions and faith systems have social justice as a pivotal centre from which many activities in a faith community arise therefrom and become part of the active compassion taken up by that faith system or religion in society and culture. In examining justice for victims of sexual abuse in institutions, the Royal Commission is required to respond to the directive of the Federal Executive and the Parliament “what institutions and governments should do to address, or alleviate the impact of, past and future sexual abuse and related matters in institutional contexts, including, in particular, in ensuring justice for victims through … processes for referral for investigation and prosecution“.
Child sexual abuse royal commission: What’s happened and when is it due to finish?
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has come a long way since it first began hearings in April 2013. Since then, it’s made almost 2,000 referrals to authorities, held more than 6,500 private sessions, and handled almost 40,000 phone calls. But with so much ground to cover, where is it up to now and what’s left to go?
Royal Commission: Public hearing into nature, cause and impact of child sexual abuse in institutions
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will hold a public hearing commencing Monday 27 March 2017 in Sydney.
The scope and purpose of the public hearing is to inquire into the nature of child sexual abuse and related matters in institutional contexts in Australia and how community understanding of abuse has changed over time. Other necessary factors will also be examined by this public hearing.
Royal Commission to hold final hearing into Australian Catholic Church
The Royal Commission will hold a public hearing to inquire into the current policies and procedures of Catholic Church authorities in Australia in relation to child-protection and child-safety standards, including responding to allegations of child sexual abuse. The public hearing will commence on 6 February 2017 at the Royal Commission’s hearing rooms in Sydney.
Royal Commission: Rabbinic Council member resigns in wake of Royal Commission findings
A Melbourne rabbi has resigned from one of the most senior Jewish bodies in Australia in the wake of the child abuse royal commission. Rabbi Shimshon Yurkowicz was a trustee of Yeshivah Centre, which was strongly criticised by the commission for its failure to stop paedophiles preying on children.
Royal Commission releases report into Yeshiva Bondi and Yeshivah Melbourne
The Royal Commission’s report into Case Study 22 – the response of Yeshiva Bondi and Yeshivah Melbourne to allegations of child sexual abuse made against people associated with those institutions – was released on 29 November 2016.
Royal Commission releases for consultation model Bill to amend evidence laws
The Royal Commission (and many persons abused in different religions) report that how the criminal justice system deals with allegations against an individual of sexual offending against more than one child, has been identified by Commissioners – and those who have been abused – as one of the most significant issues in their criminal justice work and seeing justice done to repeat child abuse offenders.
NSW: Listen and give us a say: Children and young people’s views about safety in institutions
On Friday 28 October 2016, the Royal Commission will host a research symposium on children and young people’s views of safety in institutions at University Hall, University of Technology Sydney, from 9:00am.
South Australia: Faith Reflections on Nuclear
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission was established by the South Australian Government on 19 March 2015 to undertake an independent and comprehensive investigation into the potential for increasing South Australia’s participation in the nuclear fuel cycle. It was required to, and did, report to the Governor of South Australia by 6 May 2016. Multifaith South Australia is inviting Faith Reflections on Nuclear on two occasions: October 2nd and October 23, at the Joinery, Franklin St, Adelaide.
Royal Commission releases report into Satyananda Yoga Ashram
The Royal Commission’s report into Case Study 21 – the response of the Satyananda Yoga Ashram at Mangrove Mountain NSW to allegations of child sexual abuse by the ashram’s former spiritual leader in the 1970s and 1980s – was released on 16 September 2016.
Royal Commission: Submissions on best practice when responding to complaints of institutional child sexual abuse
The Royal Commission has published 35 submissions received from a range of organisations and individuals in response to its consultation paper: Best practice principles in responding to complaints of child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. The Commission received submissions from sector peak bodies, government agencies, survivor advocacy and support groups, religious institutions and other interested parties.
Royal Commission releases consultation paper on records and recordkeeping
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a consultation paper that addresses records and recordkeeping practices in relation to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. The consultation paper, Records and recordkeeping practices, examines the records and recordkeeping practices of both older and contemporary institutions, identifying key areas of concern.
Royal Commission releases report on family relationships and the disclosure of institutional child sexual abuse
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a report that has found the social, institutional and cultural context in which a family operates deeply influences disclosure of child sexual abuse. The report, Family relationships and the disclosure of institutional child sexual abuse, examined the long-term effects of disclosures of institutional child sexual abuse on families and was prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).
Royal Commission: Address to Judicial College of Victoria
The Hon. Justice Peter McClellan AM, Chair of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, gave an address today to the Judicial College of Victoria on August 19th. The address is titled “Meeting and managing community expectations”, and is being given as part of the Judicial College of Victoria’s Historical Sexual Offences program.
