The Failures of Australia to Protect ...

SNAP
November 10, 2014

http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/AUS/INT_CAT_NGO_AUS_18631_E.pdf

THE FAILURES OF AUSTRALIA TO PROTECT AGAINST AND PROVIDE REDRESS FOR THE SYSTEMIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND COVER-UP BY CATHOLIC CLERGY AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIALS

Shadow Report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture In Connection with its Review of Australia

53rd Session, November 2014

I. Reporting Organisation

This report is submitted by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests – Australia (SNAP) which has provided support to and sought justice and healing for Australian survivors of clergy sexual abuse for the past five years. SNAP Australia is part of an international network that was founded 25 years ago by a small group of survivors of rape and sexual violence committed by clergy within the Catholic Church. Today, the Network has over 20,000 members in 79 countries with support groups in 65 cities.1

Since 2011, SNAP has been working for accountability in international legal mechanisms for the widespread and systemic rape and sexual violence within the Catholic Church.2

Further to that effort, SNAP, along with the Center for Constitutional Rights, submitted a Shadow

Report and Supplemental Report to this Committee during its 52nd session in connection with

its review of the Holy See.