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Scouts Australia sorry for child sex abuse victims
SYDNEY, Oct 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Scouts Australia Friday apologised
“unreservedly” to children who were sexually abused during their time with
the organisation, saying it had failed them.
The apology followed a five-year royal commission, which concluded in late
2017, detailing thousands of harrowing child sex abuse cases involving
Australian churches, orphanages, sporting clubs, youth groups and schools
over decades.
“We apologise unreservedly to those who suffered abuse during their time
in scouting,” Scouts Australia chief commissioner Philip Harrison said in a
statement.
“We failed you and we apologise for the pain that this has caused.”
The youth group is among several organisations that have joined a national
redress scheme to support victims with counselling, psychological care and
financial payments.
Harrison said Scouts Australia had “learned a great deal” from listening
to sexual abuse survivors and the royal commission, after previously “not
listening when some of you shared your stories with adults in scouting who
you trusted”.
The association, which has operated in Australia for more than a century,
said it has adopted a comprehensive national child protection policy which is
continually reviewed.
The royal commission found Australian institutions “seriously failed”
children in their care with tens of thousands sexually assaulted.
More than 15,000 survivors detailing their claims, some decades-old, with
over 4,000 institutions accused of abuse.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is due to deliver a national
apology to abuse victims on October 22.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1040 hrs