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

First message: “Believe the child” The survivors attached central importance to the fundamental message of believing the child – a message that is highly relevant to prevention, coping, and the emotional wellbeing of survivors of child sexual abuse: “Make a supreme effort to believe your child or whoever was abused. No one wants to invent a story about being raped or abused. And understand that you are the most important and significant people at this stage for your children.” Second message: “Recognize the abuse, the perpetrator, and the child, and shun the perpetrator” The survivors asked the families to recognize the reality of the abuse, in all its complexity and all its aspects, despite the difficulties this may pose:

“Recognize the abuse. Shun the perpetrator. Support the child. When you don’t do this, you’re continuing the abuse.”

Third message: Do not blame the child As part of recognizing the abuse, survivors asked families to avoid blaming the child: “Open your eyes, don’t blame the victim, be careful not to say things like, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ That kind of statement is in itself very judgmental and can cause the victim to feel that the abuse is continuing.”

“Don’t blame anyone. Take responsibility. Not blame.”

The Israeli Independent Public Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

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