New Zealand’s Royal Commission of Inquiry made 138 recommendations after estimating that 200,000 children in state and faith-based institutions were abused between 1950 and 2019. Recommendations include public apologies from government officials and church leaders, the establishment of a Care Safe Agency, and new legislation for mandatory reporting of abuse. The report also highlighted the high cost of abuse survivors’ lifetime care, potentially reaching billions of dollars in compensation. It emphasized the need for recognition and acknowledgment of survivors’ experiences and recommended payments to families affected by intergenerational trauma.
Tracey McIntosh, a sociologist at the University of Auckland, stressed the importance of acknowledging survivors’ truths. This report sheds light on the extensive abuse and neglect that occurred in state and faith-based care, emphasizing the need for accountability and support for survivors and their families.
Key findings and recommendations:
– Around 200,000 individuals suffered abuse or neglect in care institutions between 1950-2019.
– Various forms of abuse and neglect, including physical, emotional, and cultural, were common.