UN report urges Vatican to act over child sex abuse
- 10 years ago
The Vatican has been urged to “immediately remove” all clergy from the Catholic Church who are known or suspected child abusers.
The demand comes in an unprecedented and scathing report by the United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of the Child.
It accuses the church officials of impsing a so-called code of silence to cover up crimes.
Kirsten Sandberg, committee chairman said: “The main finding of the committee was that the Holy See has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by the perpetrators.”
The UN also calls on the Holy See to hand over to local authorities an archive of evidence about the abuse of tens of thousands of children, and take
measures to prevent a repeat.
The exceptionally blunt report followed the UN committee’s public grilling of Vatican officials last month.
The demand comes in an unprecedented and scathing report by the United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of the Child.
It accuses the church officials of impsing a so-called code of silence to cover up crimes.
Kirsten Sandberg, committee chairman said: “The main finding of the committee was that the Holy See has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by the perpetrators.”
The UN also calls on the Holy See to hand over to local authorities an archive of evidence about the abuse of tens of thousands of children, and take
measures to prevent a repeat.
The exceptionally blunt report followed the UN committee’s public grilling of Vatican officials last month.