Sydney, Dec 15 (AFP) Australian institutions "seriouslyfailed" children in their care over decades with tens ofthousands sexually abused, the final report from a five-yearinquiry said today, calling it a "national tragedy".
The government ordered the Royal Commission intoInstitutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2012 after adecade of pressure to investigate widespread allegationsacross the country.
The commission was contacted by more than 15,000survivors who detailed claims of child abuse involvingchurches, orphanages, sporting clubs, youth groups andschools, often dating back decades.
It heard horrific stories during often confronting andemotionally exhausting public and private hearings.
In total, more than 4,000 institutions were accused ofabuse, with many of them Catholic-managed facilities.
"Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abusedin many Australian institutions. We will never know the truenumber," the final report said, making hundreds ofrecommendations to improve children's safety and make itharder for paedophiles to operate unpunished.
"Whatever the number, it is a national tragedy,perpetrated over generations within many of our most trustedinstitutions."It said abuse occurred in almost every place wherechildren resided or attended for educational, recreational,sporting, religious or cultural activities.
And it was not a case of a few "rotten apples".
"Some institutions have had multiple abusers who sexuallyabused multiple children," it said.
"Society's major institutions have seriously failed. Inmany cases those failings have been exacerbated by amanifestly inadequate response to the abused person.
"The problems have been so widespread, and the nature ofthe abuse so heinous, that it is difficult to comprehend."More than 2,500 referrals have been made to police, with230 prosecutions under way.
Among the 17-volume report's recommendations was thecreation of a National Office for Child Safety, and forreligious ministers to be required to report abuse confided tothem during confession.
During its hearings, the commission heard that sevenpercent of Catholic priests were accused of abuse in Australiabetween 1950 and 2010, but the allegations were neverinvestigated, with children ignored and even punished whenthey came forward.
There were more than 1,800 alleged perpetrators, with theaverage age of the victims at the time 10 for girls and 11 forboys. The St John of God Brothers religious order was theworst, with just over 40 per cent of members accused.
The inquiry embroiled Australia's most senior Catholiccleric George Pell, now the Vatican's finance chief, who wasquestioned over his dealings with paedophile priests inVictoria state in the 1970s.
Pell is currently accused of multiple historical sexualoffences, with a committal hearing in March due to decide ifthere is enough evidence from the prosecution for the caseagainst him to go to trial. (AFP)KIS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.