An investigation reveals widespread abuse of children in New Zealand

An inquiry carried out by the New Zealand government has revealed that up to 200,000 children held in care during the last few decades have been abused. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has apologized and vowed reform after the inquiry.

It is described in the report that widespread abuse in state care facilities and faith-based institutions is a catastrophe of national proportions, which has caused “unprecedented harm to many people”.

A six-year investigation led to the identification and testimony of dozens of victims who described their harrowing orphanages, foster homes, psychiatric hospitals, and other institutions as the site of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.

The “Abuse of Care” royal commission was established in order to investigate whether abuse or neglect had occurred in the care of any of the 655,000 children, young people or adults and, according to that report, 200,000 children, young people or adults had been abused or neglected between 1950 and 2019.

Children who were diagnosed with epilepsy were treated with electroconvulsive therapy that caused seizures in some of them. There were also reports of sexual abuse committed by church officials against those in care.

Adoption became a necessity for young mothers who had to give up their children.

A number of victims have reported that their trauma has led to lingering addictions and other problems in their lives.

As a result of the report, some of the abusive behaviours were viewed as “overlaid with racism” and targeted at ethnic Maori children living in foster care.

According to Arrun Soma, chief adviser for the inquiry, “Maori survivors have been exposed to harsher treatment in many different settings once they have been placed in care”.

According to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the publication of the report marks a momentous day in the history of New Zealand as it represents a dark and sorrowful time for the country.

In Luxon’s words, “I am determined that we will do better as a society and as a state. I am convinced that we will do better in the future.

In its report, the inquiry made 233 recommendations for reform, which have been taken into consideration by the government of Luxon after it was set up in 2018.

On the 12th of November, the government will formally apologize to the public for the incident.

Timenews1 provided that news.