Critical reappraisal of child sexual abuse in other countries

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013 – 2017)
The Royal Commission investigated all private, public or non-governmental organisations that were involved with children in the past or continue to do so today, including public authorities, schools, sports clubs, children’s homes, foster families and religious organisations. It conducted 8,000 confidential hearings (private sessions) and 57 public hearings. It presented its detailed final 17 volume report in December 2017.
www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (2014 – 2021)
The English Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in London began its work in March 2015. The IICSA focused on reappraising sexual abuse in institutions and organizations in England and Wales. Its work was subdivided into three sections: the research project, the truth project and the public hearings project with 13 investigative areas. The IICSA was an inquiry established by law, independent of the government and not affiliated to any government administration.
www.iicsa.org.uk

Commission Indépendante sur l’Inceste et les Violences Sexuelles faites aux Enfants (CIIVISE) 2021-2023
In 2021, President Emmanuel Macron commissioned the French CIIVISE commission to investigate how recommendations could be formulated to prevent violence, protect the survivors and combat impunity for perpetrators. The object of the independent commission is to uncover the extent of sexual violence and its mechanisms against children as well as to make key professional groups aware of the issue. The commission’s final report was presented in 2023.
https://www.ciivise.fr/mission/

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (2000-2009)
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern apologised to the survivors of abuse and mistreatment in Irish children’s homes and announced the establishment of a commission in May 1999. From 2000 to 2009 the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) investigated child sexual abuse and maltreatment in Irish institutions from 1914 – 2000. The Commission’s work was completed with the so-called five volume Ryan Report. The report was based on over 1,000 hearings, 2,000 hours of witness statements given to legal teams and over 1 million evaluated documents.
www.childabusecommission.ie

The Israeli Independent Public Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (seit 2020)
The Israeli Independent Public Inquiry is investigating cases of child sexual abuse with the aim of improving the protection of children and adolescents from sexualised violence in Israel. The inquiry has seven members. Survivors can confide in the inquiry’s members through an online questionnaire or during a personal conversation. The inquiry received 505 reports from 2020 to 2021. Based on these reports, it drafted action recommendations that it sent to the Israeli government and they included those for prevention, for dealing with the survivors and for improving support services.
www.haruf.org.il

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2009-2015)
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was an actual truth and reconciliation commission. It was commissioned to examine the effects of the public boarding school system on the children of indigenous people in Canada. 150,000 children from the First Nations were forcibly placed in boarding schools and homes back in the 20th century. The TRC heard from more than 6,500 witnesses during the nationwide hearings. The Commission organised seven national events to reconcile Canada with its indigenous population. A National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) was established at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg with an archive for preserving the documents, research and witness statements collected by the TRC during its activities
www.trc.ca

Commissie-Samson (2010-2012)
The Commission, known as the Samson Commission after its chairperson, was set up by the Dutch government in 2010 to investigate the sexual abuse of minors placed in institutions under government responsibility. It was tasked with investigating the sexual abuse of minors who were placed in institutions and foster families under the government’s responsibility. It had to simultaneously reappraise how the government reacted to signs of child abuse.
www.rijksoverheid.nl

Historical Institutional Abuse in Northern Ireland (2013-2017)
The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA), chaired by Judge Sir Anthony Hart, was established by law in January 2013. Its task was to investigate whether the emotional, physical and sexual abuse of children who were placed in institutions (reform centres, children’s homes, hospitals, juvenile detention centres and boarding schools) between 1922 and 1995 was systematic and whether the authorities failed to act. The HIA conducted both confidential and public hearings. The investigation was concluded in January 2017 with a report and recommendations sent to policy-makers.
www.hiainquiry.org

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (2016-2020)
In 2016, the Scottish government set up an inquiry to independently investigate mistreatment and sexual abuse in institutions where children and adolescents were accommodated. It aimed to find out where and when abuse took place, what consequences this had for the survivors and their families and what role the institutions played in dealing with it. It investigated incidents in individual schools, boarding schools and other institutions belonging to various responsible bodies through hearings and archive research. The inquiry was simultaneously tasked with preparing a report with recommendations for the government and parliament.
www.childabuseinquiry.scot

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in Institutions and Foster Homes (2006-2011)
The Swedish commission investigated maltreatment and child sexual abuse in institutions and foster homes. Almost 900 survivors reported their experiences to it. After the report was submitted, a memorial service was held in the Stockholm Parliament in the presence of the Queen and the government and it was also broadcast live on radio and television. The Speaker of Parliament explicitly held Swedish society responsible and spoke on its behalf.