Victims of the North Wales child abuse scandal have reacted
with anger to the Government's response to recommendations
made in the damning Waterhouse report.
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They accused ministers of "completely ignoring" them and
demanded a national inquiry into child abuse.
Steve Messham, spokesman for North Wales Abuse Survivors,
said: "The recommendations do not go far enough and do not
apply to the whole of the country. We want a national
inquiry into child abuse, not just one for North Wales."
He added: "But most importantly, the victims are completely
ignored. There is no mention of compensation, counselling or
help and support for victims, and the Government has failed
to pick up on that."
The Waterhouse report said that systematic abuse, a climate
of violence and a culture of secrecy existed in dozens of
children's homes over two decades. After a three-year, £13
million investigation, Sir Ronald Waterhouse QC made 72
recommendations, calling for sweeping changes to the way
local councils, social services and police deal with
children in care.
In his report published in February - called Lost in Care -
he recommended the appointment of an independent children's
commissioner for Wales, whistleblowing procedures to allow
staff to raise concerns and a children's complaints officer
to be appointed in every local authority to deal with
allegations of abuse.
Health minister John Hutton said the report must be the
"catalyst for change" in the care of children and said the
Government accepted its recommendations.
Mr Messham added: "Every person who was abused has proved
their case, there have been a lot of suicides because of the
abuse, those responsible have admitted their guilt, and yet
we still have to fight for compensation."
The report exposed one of the worst child abuse scandals in
history. Hundreds of children had been physically, sexually
or emotionally abused in care homes in the former county
council areas of Gwynedd and Clwyd between 1974 and 1990.
The inquiry heard from 240 people abused as children in 40
homes but there are thought to be hundreds more victims. At
least 12 victims have committed suicide, one has been
convicted for murder and hundreds of others say their lives
have been destroyed by the abuse they endured.
source:
http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Breaking_News/UK/0,2478,272337,00.html
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