Child Protection Workshop – day 2: environment, victims and perpetrators

Photos | Read more about the workshop

“Safeguarding is not Mickey Mouse or Disneyland, it is a serious matter.” This is how H. Fortune Chakasara expressed himself in the prayer that opened the second day of the “Child safeguarding workshop,” held in Rome from March 17 to 21, convened by the International Commission for Child Protection. He then invited participants to commit to creating safe environments and promoting children’s rights, following the evangelical proposal of Jesus of Nazareth.

Fernando Domínguez, from the Mediterranean Province, developed the theme “Building a Safe Environment.” Based on an analysis of the types of violence that can impact children and young people in Marist educational institutions, he proposed the development of a safeguarding culture, composed of policies, management and leadership actions, processes and tools, and data evaluation and monitoring.

A safe environment is one that allows the child to communicate their situation and the educational community to express their willingness to care for its members. It starts by helping the child to be aware and understand that what is happening to them is abuse, interpreting their feelings and what is happening to them. The educational community must create an environment that favors the expression of the victim: time for dialogue, a place conducive to trust, a close person with listening skills. Overcoming the fear of not being believed or becoming a victim, and the impact on their family and environment, the child will be able to express themselves and break the silence, opening the opportunity for reparation.

The theme of reparation and accompaniment to victims was thoroughly addressed by Marcela Hormazábal, from Chile (Santa María de los Andes Province). In her presentation, she summarized the journey of the Marists in her country, from 2017 to the present, in relation to child protection. From the first known cases of abuse in that year, to the reception and reparation for today’s victims; it has been a path of learning, shared pain, certainty in the importance of reception and listening, empathy, and decisions.

Reparation involves giving credibility to the victims, recognizing and assuming institutional responsibility, and proposing compensation, sometimes also financial. When this proposal can be made through interpersonal encounters, in an environment of trust and reception, the reparation is deeper.

Marcela commented on some lessons from this process: How has fear intervened in the response offered? How is the damage quantified or the reparations to be offered? And in turn, the conviction that listening is an essential part of the process, that the response is from the Institution as a whole, and that a deep commitment to promoting children’s rights is key to giving credibility to the response.

Finally, Nancy Camillery, from the West Central Europe District, addressed the difficult issue of dealing with perpetrators from her experience. From strict compliance with the laws of each country and their consequences, it becomes relevant to create interdisciplinary accompaniment commissions, considering the victims first. Perhaps, sometimes over time, the perpetrator will come to say, “I recognize it”, “I regret it.” In this process, information in the immediate environment of the perpetrator is important, as well as the accompaniment of secondary or collateral victims.

_____________

Br. Xavier Giné Arnella – Province of L’Hermitage