Report by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Jan 2014

Today in Geneva the Vatican have been called to give account of cover up at the UN Commission against Torture in Geneva and to answer why nothing substantial has been done to protect children from sexual attack by religious and the culture.

The UN committee is reviewing the Vatican on its compliance with international prohibitions against torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment under the Convention Against Torture, which the Vatican ratified in 2002. This will be the second time in four months that top Catholic officials have been called before the UN to account for the Vatican’s human rights record on addressing the ongoing worldwide crisis of sexual violence and cover-ups within the Catholic Church. Vatican representatives will appear before and be questioned by the Committee on May 5 and 6, 2014.

Today testimony from those who have experienced abuse at the hands of religious will give evidence.
I was invited to participate but due to my workload it is not possible. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who are engaged in the fight for truth and justice.

The image attached is the last report from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which was published in Jan 2014.It was the first time the Holy See had been called to account for its actions, or lack thereof, on these issues before an international body. In February 2014, the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed “grave concern that the Holy See has not acknowledged the extent of the crimes committed…has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by and impunity of the perpetrators,” and that “[t]he Holy See has consistently placed the preservation of the reputation of the Church and the protection of the perpetrators above children’s best interests.”

http://ccrjustice.org/newsroom/press-releases/vatican-summoned-report-un-committee-torture