New Zealand's Injustice: 200,000 Children Abused in State and Faith-Based Care

A New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry report revealed that 200,000 children were subject to abuse in state and faith-based institutions from 1950 to 2019. Key figures express shock and determination for reform. The widespread abuse, deemed systemic, calls for strong measures to prevent future occurrences.

A groundbreaking report by New Zealand's Royal Commission of Inquiry into historic child abuse in state and faith-based institutions has revealed that an estimated 200,000 children suffered abuse between 1950 and 2019.

Chair Coral Shaw labeled the findings as a 'national disgrace,' condemning the abuse that persisted for over 50 years. Shaw emphasized the vulnerability of those taken into care and branded the protective guise under which they were placed as a facade for widespread mistreatment.

Commissioner Paul Gibson further highlighted the systemic nature of the abuse, stating that it was pervasive in all investigated settings. Gibson emphasized the failure of systems, institutions, and individuals in positions of power to protect the vulnerable.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged the state's failure to protect its children, vowing to do better. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins called the historical abuse unacceptable and underscored its long-term impact on survivors and their families.

Peter Lineham, an Emeritus Professor of History, stressed the need for neutral complaint systems within religious institutions to prevent defensive practices that protect perpetrators.

(With inputs from agencies.)