No More Suffering in Silence for Sexually Abused

By Janet Fife-Yeomans
The Telegraph
April 4, 2013

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/no-more-suffering-in-silence-for-sexually-abused/story-e6freuy9-1226612019540

[with video]

THE long-suffering victims of child sex abuse will finally be given a voice after decades of suffering in silence.

It's expected more than 5000 will relive their harrowing ordeals as the royal commission into institutionalised sex abuse against children began yesterday.

The six commissioners, headed by Justice Peter McClellan, said the victims - of all ages and backgrounds - would no longer be ignored and the commissioners were expecting to hear "serious and often shocking allegations".

"Part of the task given to us is to bear witness, on behalf of the nation, to the abuse and consequential trauma inflicted on many people who have suffered sexual abuse as children," he said.

The commission has chosen the non-threatening surroundings of regional motel function rooms for the victims to open their hearts and reveal their most agonising and painful secrets.

The abuse may have happened when they were Scouts, Girl Guides, orphans, at kindy or at swimming, netball or Little Athletics as the commission spreads its net wide to cover more than the Catholic Church and other religious institutions.

The commission, established last year by the government, has a total staff of 112 and its first report is expected in June next year.

Advocates of victims and survivor groups in the public gallery at yesterday's hearing were relieved that accusers would not face their abusers or be cross-examined by lawyers unless they wanted to in a later public hearing. Counsel assisting Gail Furness, SC, reiterated the commission was not a court.