29 October 2015
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) welcomes the Federal Opposition’s promise to establish a National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Redress is especially important for people with disability who have survived child sexual abuse, and this was highlighted in PWDA’s Child Sexual Assault, Disability and the Justice System Forum held at Parliament House in September this year. People with disability who have survived child sexual abuse face substantial barriers to achieving justice through criminal and civil courts. A National Redress Scheme in line with the Royal Commission’s recommendations would ameliorate some of the impacts of abuse experienced by many children with disability while in institutions.
PWDA President, Craig Wallace said, “No one can ever fully compensate people for the sexual abuse that occurred while they were in institutions. But a National Redress Scheme would ensure that an apology, life-long psychological support, and monetary compensation would be within reach for all survivors with disability.”
He added, “This should be a matter of justice, not a matter of politics, and we hope that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will give the National Redress Scheme bipartisan support.”
PWDA believes that justice should be accessible for all, and calls for all political parties to support a National Redress Scheme.
MEDIA: Craig Wallace 0413 135 731
Phone: 02 9370 3100 Toll Free: 1800 422 015 Email: pwd@pwd.org.au
People with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWDA) is a national disability rights and advocacy, non-profit, non-government organisation. We have a cross-disability focus, representing the interests of people with all kinds of disability and our membership is made up of people with disability and organisations mainly constituted by people with disability.
Our vision is of a socially just, accessible and inclusive community, in which the human rights, citizenship, contribution, potential and diversity of all people with disability are respected and celebrated.