The Flemish Parliament has unanimously adopted a resolution with more than 100 recommendations to address sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and in wider society.
On Wednesday, the Chamber voted through the resolution which came about as a result of VRT's documentary Godvergeten (which roughly translates to 'Godforsaken'), which aired in September of last year and sent shockwaves through the Flanders community. The series gave voice to victims of often historic abuse perpetrated by religious figures within parish, school and family settings.
Following the documentary's broadcast, the Flemish Parliament established a special commission to explore how best to help victims of abuse. The commission also drafted the resolution proposal.
Among the 101 recommendations unanimously adopted by the Flemish Parliament is the establishment of another investigative commission in the next legislature (after the elections), dedicated to 'Operation Chalice': a wider investigation into clerical abuse in Belgium launched by the Federal Prosecutor over a decade ago.
Recommendations
Drawing parallels with existing victim support funds, Flemish MPs are advocating the establishment of a specific fund for victims of sexual abuse, to which the Church would contribute. Alongside federal authorities, they aim to investigate whether perpetrators can also contribute if found guilty.
The adopted resolution also proposes to establish a centralised support hub for victims, and reduce waiting times for support services, with the goal that a first consultation for any request would be arranged within a month.
The Chamber also passed a bill introduced by Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt, which allows for the cessation of a religious minister's remuneration following a criminal conviction. To facilitate this, a criminal record extract will be requested every five years.
The commission further emphasised the need for renewed apologies to victims of these historical sexual abuses, and suggested constructing a monument to keep the memory of the victims alive and acknowledge their suffering.
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The text of the resolution adopted on Wednesday noted that the recommendations are intended not just for victims of clerical abuse, but for all victims of sexual violence, regardless of the context in which the acts took place.
It said that the commission expects the new Flemish Parliament, voted in after the June elections, to take concrete steps towards implementing the recommendations in the resolution. The text also added an appeal to every citizen, urging them to be alert and vigilant to sexual violence and to report concerns.
