Netherlands wants to punish silence on sex abuse in closed communities

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-women-crime-trfn/netherlands-wants-to-punish-silence-on-sex-abuse-in-closed-communities-idUSKBN25O2IV

AMSTERDAM (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The Dutch government wants to prosecute members of private groups and communities who fail to report sexual abuse in their organisations, a move that comes after Jehovah’s Witnesses rejected demands to tackle the under-reporting of abuse.

A 2019 report commissioned by the government to investigate sexual abuse involving Jehovah’s Witnesses found few cases were being reported to police, but group leaders dismissed calls for change and said they were being discriminated against.

 

Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker said the reluctance to change had spurred him to analyse how a law that punished organisations for failing to report sexual abuse could be structured.

“This makes it clear to me that the leadership (of the Jehovah’s Witnesses community) does not see or does not want to see the gravity of the situation. The leadership is leaving vulnerable victims out in the cold,” he said in a letter to parliament published late on Thursday.

Victims of sexual abuse in the Netherlands have the same right to access help, care and justice, regardless of which community they belong to,” he added, promising a progress update on the potential legislation later this year.

Link at top of page to full report.

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

Of course the Law needs to include the reporting of ALL Accusations of Sexual Abuse and other abuse. Otherwise Elders or others could simply say that they didn't report it as there was no proof sexual abuse / other abuse actually happened.  The wording of any such Law would have to be very carefully thought out as it needs to be 'bomb proof'.  

What is also needed really is a 'safe house' for wives and children that want to report sexual abuse or other forms of abuse within their own household. It is often the husband / father that is the abuser and it is possible that a wife or child will not report because they have to continue living in the situation whilst it is investigated. 

If this is in a JW household where the husband/father is an Elder then it becomes even more difficult for a wife/child to report it to Elders. This is where a 'safe house' or 'hiding place' could be necessary. 

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

UPDATE 

https://nltimes.nl/2020/08/30/dutch-govt-launches-hotline-sexual-abuse-jehovahs-witnesses

DUTCH GOV'T LAUNCHES HOTLINE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

 

The government is expanding the 'Break the silence" hotline of Victim Support Netherlands so that there is a special hotline where victims of sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses can get the help they need, Minister Sander Dekker for Legal Protection announced. The Jehovah's Witnesses refused to set up its own, low-threshold internal hotline, so the Minister decided to do so himself.

"I expect every community or organization to do everything possible to combat sexual abuse and to help and support victims. That is not happening with the Jehovah's Witnesses and I find that extremely bad," Dekker said. "That is why we are reaching out now and victims from this community will soon be able to contact the 'Break the silence' hotline of Victims Support Netherlands. Victims are entitled to professional help and a listening ear, it cannot be that they run into a wall of reluctance."

The government agency for scientific research WODC investigated sexual abuse and the willingness to come forward in the Jehovah's Witnesses, following calls from Foundation Reclaimed Voices to do so, and concluded that there is evidence that coming forward is complicated by the closed nature fo the community. The WODC said it was essential for a low-threshold hotline to be created, and the government is doing so now after repeated instructions to the board of the Jehovah's Witnesses to create such a hotline were ignored. 

Link to article at top of this comment.

I do wonder if Almighty God is using worldly leaders / governments to 'sort out' the CCJW. 

God used worldly nations to punish the Nation of Israel and to destroy Jerusalem. 

[Matthew9969]

I hope they punish elders as well for threatening the victims with disfellowshipping or disassociation for going to the authorities.