Question It!

18 Monday May 2015

Welcome to the week.

With the recent revelation that the Statutory Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse may take 8 years to complete, many have started to question the Inquiry’s intentions as a result. Some victims and survivors have responded to the news with anger, accusing the Inquiry of foul play, that justice delayed is justice denied. Others have defended the Inquiry, taking the view that the time line is an estimate and is an indication of the Inquiry’s earnest desire to hear all victims of abuse who wish to come forward.

Our question to you then, is just this: do you think an extended Inquiry, regardless of the reasons behind an extended investigation, can offer survivors the redress they seek?

Research: Forced Adoption

18 Monday May 2015

Posted by Natasha in forced adoption

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The Australian Institute of Family Studies has begun to focus on the issues surrounding forced adoption, and as such have a very interesting dedicated page to the phenomenon.

The site tells us that the Institute has looked at a number of areas within forced adoption and separation matters including:

The history of adoption in Australia
Effects of closed and forced adoption policies and practices on affected individuals
Links between adoption and other family separation practices, and their effects
Current service and support needs of those affected
Broader service delivery implications.

The site is well worth a visit and offers links to other relevant publications, as well.

Child Abuse Inquiry To Release Progress Reports And Interim Recommendations

18 Monday May 2015

Posted by Natasha in child abuse inquiry

≈ 9 Comments

Officials working on behalf of the Statutory Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse have confirmed that the Panel will be releasing progress reports as they begin their investigations into child abuse.

This news comes as an estimate of the duration of the Inquiry, suggested by a Home Office official to be in the region of 8 years depending on the number of victims and survivors who come forward, caused concern last week.

There is also talk that the Inquiry may also release interim recommendations, presumably to stem the suggestion that they are purposefully stalling the investigation and also, to ensure that a long-ranging Inquiry like this one offers calls for action which can be implemented sooner rather than later.

Despite talk that the Inquiry is intentionally trying to stall proceedings, Researching Reform does not agree. The Panel is clearly trying to ensure that there is a good working structure in place and that, contrary to Baroness Butler-Sloss’s recent criticisms of the Inquiry, every survivor who wishes to come forward, can do so.

The progress reports and recommendations are a step forward for the Inquiry into child abuse. Much of the problems they have faced to date have been due to the Panel’s inability to gauge the public’s desire to be kept informed and the pressing need to show what is happening behind the scenes. The Inquiry’s tone and frequency of engagement with the public, is now key.