The Israeli Independent Public - Abstract of the Inquiry Report - December 2021

Children often report abuse in an attempt to stop it, and are not aware of the possible repercussions. Many survivors attested that contact with the law enforcement and legal systems caused them harm, in some cases amplifying the original trauma and adding to it. The experiences they underwent in these systems were described as objectifying ones; the survivors felt that the systems used them as objects to satisfy the need for evidence. In this encounter they again felt unseen, and if something did happen to protect them, it occurred without their participation, above their heads and without seeing them. The survivors wish to be seen and asked what they would prefer and what they need. The testimonies show that survivors understand that the system has many limitations and complexities in operating and constructing a criminal case. However, they need mediation, honesty, and the availability of professionals to answer their questions, even if the answers are complex. From the desk sergeant to the police investigator, to the attorney, to the judge: all bear the responsibility of seeing the children who have suffered sexual abuse, speaking with them, and listening to them. All have the power to assist the many children and survivors. It is the moral obligation of every professional to assist children in the context of child sexual abuse, or at least avoid traumatizing them further. Many survivors attest that experiencing the criminal proceedings is more important that a verdict or a conviction, because “punishment doesn’t help healing” (a 27-year-old participant who suffered abuse since the age of 4). What helps them overcome the abuse is trust, visibility, and validation. The solution involves a holistic view of the child following abuse and coordination between all the professionals who meet these children. It entails restoring, as far as possible, the power to choose, which the survivors of sexual abuse so desperately need. The survivors who decided not to file a complaint said, “I’d like to” but “they’ll cut me up.” They say, “It’s an ordeal.” They’d like to receive aid, but in their view, the systemic changes implemented so far for those maltreated in childhood are not sufficient for them to feel seen. The testimonies of the survivors reveal that despite the Rights of Victims of Crime Law, which recognizes a series of rights of crime victims in criminal proceedings, including: the right to protection, the right to information, the

The Israeli Independent Public Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

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