Care leavers to discuss justice and remedies for abuse

An event aimed at exploring the views of people who were in residential care as children on justice and remedies for historic abuse is to be hosted by the Centre for Excellence for Looked after Children in Scotland (CELCIS), based at Strathclyde University.

Organised in partnership with the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the meeting – to be held on Monday, 17 June in Glasgow – will give attendees the opportunity to offer their opinions  to inform the development of an Action Plan for Justice and Remedies for Historic Abuse.

Subjects which may be discussed include:

• Acknowledgement and apology: How should society and organisations acknowledge historic abuse? What form should meaningful apology take?
• Reparation: Should Scotland establish a National Reparation or Survivor Support Fund? How should that work?
• Inquiry: Should there be a Public Inquiry into historic abuse? What form might an inquiry take?
• Access to Justice: How can civil justice be achieved? How can perpetrators be brought to justice?

Jennifer Davidson, Director of CELCIS, said: 'Since the 1990s, there has been increasing awareness that, while many children who lived in residential care in the past were well looked after, some children experienced abuse and neglect.

'In 2010, SHRC produced a Human Rights Framework for Historical Child Abuse. The aim of the Framework is to implement a comprehensive process of justice for survivors of historic child abuse.

'Working in partnership with SHRC, CELCIS is using a process called ‘InterAction’ to offer those affected by historic child abuse a platform, upon which they can give their views on how the Human Rights Framework should be implemented. This process began last year and the meeting on June 17 will ensure that those affected have an opportunity to take part.'

Information about the Survivors event is available at www.shrcinteraction.org. To register for the event, contact Kelly.docherty@strath.ac.uk .

 

ENDS

e