News In Focus
5 June 2009
Abuse survivors give backing to accountability forum
A Scottish Government consultation on creating an "acknowledgment and accountability" forum for people who suffered sexual abuse while in children's homes has found widespread support for the proposal.
The proposal followed a commitment made by Scottish Ministers in February 2008 to create a forum as part of a range of measures aimed at helping adults who had suffered childhood abuse in care.
More than 50 responses were received, with unanimous support for trialling a forum, although the widespread view was that the title "acknowledgment and accountability" was not appropriate. A number of other titles were suggested, including No More Secrets, Truth and Mediation, and Speaking Out.
A summary of responses, released by the Government, said that respondents had felt a forum would provide a valuable service that is not currently available, and that it would reflect the needs of survivors and their strong desire to be heard and to have their experiences validated and acknowledged. They also said a forum could help address issues from the past and potentially play an important part in a survivor's recovery process. "There would be great scope for lessons to be learned to help shape future practice and to better safeguard people in care", it said.
However questions have been raised as to the willingness of the organisations, such as religious orders, responsible for running the homes to take part, for fear of being seen to admit legal liability to pay compensation to those who suffered.
Respondents also emphasised that any forum must be well structured and set up with a clear framework and remit.
The consultation process included a number of events attended by survivors and survivor organisations, along with group and individual interviews, and two further reports giving the views expressed in those activities will be published later.
The full report can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/02154100/0.