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Australia child abuse inquiry: Final recommendations released Australia child abuse inquiry: Final recommendations released
(about 1 hour later)
A five-year inquiry into child sexual abuse in Australia has released its final report, making more than 400 recommendations.A five-year inquiry into child sexual abuse in Australia has released its final report, making more than 400 recommendations.
The royal commission uncovered harrowing evidence of sexual abuse within institutions, including churches, schools and sports clubs.The royal commission uncovered harrowing evidence of sexual abuse within institutions, including churches, schools and sports clubs.
Since 2013, it has referred more than 2,500 allegations to authorities.Since 2013, it has referred more than 2,500 allegations to authorities.
The final report, released on Friday, added 189 recommendations to 220 that had already been made public.The final report, released on Friday, added 189 recommendations to 220 that had already been made public.
"Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in many Australian institutions. We will never know the true number," the report said."Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in many Australian institutions. We will never know the true number," the report said.
"It is not a case of a few 'rotten apples'. Society's major institutions have seriously failed.""It is not a case of a few 'rotten apples'. Society's major institutions have seriously failed."
Religious ministers and school teachers were the most commonly reported perpetrators, the report said.Religious ministers and school teachers were the most commonly reported perpetrators, the report said.
The recommendations include:The recommendations include:
The greatest number of alleged perpetrators and abused children were in Catholic institutions, the report said.The greatest number of alleged perpetrators and abused children were in Catholic institutions, the report said.
The commission had previously recommended that Catholic clerics should face criminal charges if they fail to report sexual abuse disclosed to them during confession.The commission had previously recommended that Catholic clerics should face criminal charges if they fail to report sexual abuse disclosed to them during confession.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the commission had exposed "a national tragedy".
"It is an outstanding exercise in love, and I thank the commissioners and those who have the courage to tell their stories - thank you very much," he said on Friday.
The proposals will now be considered by legislators.
Who came forward?
The royal commission, Australia's highest form of public inquiry, had been contacted by more than 15,000 people, including relatives and friends of abuse victims.
More than 8,000 victims told their stories, many for the first time, in private sessions with commissioners.
The inquiry also received more than 1,300 written accounts, and held 57 public hearings across the nation.
Letters from survivorsLetters from survivors
The royal commission held more than 8,000 private sessions with victims and gathered about 1,300 written accounts.
After revealing their experiences, survivors were invited to write about the process of coming forward.After revealing their experiences, survivors were invited to write about the process of coming forward.
They have now been compiled in a book - "Message to Australia" - which was described by one lawyer as "too heavy to lift".They have now been compiled in a book - "Message to Australia" - which was described by one lawyer as "too heavy to lift".
'I can now pick up the pieces of my life''I can now pick up the pieces of my life'
The royal commission, Australia's highest form of public inquiry, had been contacted by more than 15,000 people, including relatives and friends of abuse victims. How have institutions reacted to the findings?
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the commission had exposed "a national tragedy". Throughout the inquiry, many leaders of institutions admitted failures and apologised to victims on behalf of their groups.
"It is an outstanding exercise in love, and I thank the commissioners and those who have the courage to tell their stories - thank you very much," he said on Friday. On Friday, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart, issued an "unconditional" apology.
The proposals will now be considered by legislators. "This is a shameful past, in which a prevailing culture of secrecy and self-protection led to unnecessary suffering for many victims and their families," he said.
Australia's most senior Anglican figure, Melbourne Archbishop Dr Philip Freier, also said sorry.
"I apologise on behalf of the church to survivors, their families, and others harmed by our failures and by the shameful way we sometimes actively worked against and discouraged those who came to us and reported abuse," he said.
Uncertainty over compensation
Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent
There are few countries in the world that have confronted the issue of child abuse as comprehensively as Australia.
But there are questions over what compensation will be on offer.
In October, the federal government announced a national redress scheme that would entitle victims to claim up to A$150,000 (£85,000; $115,000) each.
However, it is still unclear whether all state governments and church authorities will sign up to it.
With the total bill estimated to be around A$4bn ($3bn; £2.3bn), there could still be a lengthy political row over who should pay what, in order to help those whose lives have been damaged.