TR_Buch_zur_Ausstellung_Strasbourg_2024_170x170mm_V03

SHAME

EUROPEAN STORIES

«I am twelve years old, and I am sitting on my

bedroom floor. I can still feel his hands all over me.

Little did I know, the sexual abuse would not stop

there. It would also take place on online platforms – and

therefore, my body would never be left alone.» (Saga)

Resolution 2533 of the Council of Europe

can be found here

All human beings are born free and equal

in dignity and rights.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

GUIDO FLURI

«Shame - European Stories» – Europe can restore a piece of justice

The people who had their pictures taken for the exhibition «Shame - European

Stories» bear witness. They tell of the abuse they have experienced. They tell of the

abuse they had to endure. Their stories are staggering. So much suffering has been

inflicted. In our society.

Those affected come from the most diverse countries in Europe. Their life stories are

different, and yet we recognize parallels. It is not only about the abuse of the past. It

is also about life afterward. To this day, many of those affected suffer from injustice

and shame. Many are psychologically burdened and live in poverty because of the

experiences of violence. Above all, however, they suffer from the significant silence

in society and politics. They were left alone as children and are now left to fend for

themselves in old age.

Coming to terms with history

In Switzerland, too, the cases of abuse were tabooed for decades. In state and

church institutions and private homes, thousands of children were systematically

humiliated, chastised, and sometimes sexually abused. On farms, tens of thousands

of children were exploited as cheap laborers. There were forced sterilizations, forced

castrations, and forced abortions. Drugs were tested on hundreds of unsuspecting

patients in Swiss psychiatric clinics. This dark chapter of Swiss social history was not

discussed for decades. The victims were neither heard nor did they dare to tell of

their fates. They were ashamed of the abuse they had experienced. They were

without rights.

Against this background, my foundation launched a popular initiative in Switzerland

and succeeded thanks to the great solidarity of the population and politicians.

Today, more than 10,000 victims have received reparations – it is a solidarity

contribution to amend the suffered injustice. Today, the history of the abuses is

being comprehensively reviewed countrywide. There are memorials throughout the

country, the subject is taught in schools, books are written, and films are produced.

The dark chapter of Swiss social history is now part of Swiss history. No one affected

must hide today; they are now able to say, «I am the victim, I have been wronged.»

Coming to terms with the past in Europe

The values on which Europe is founded include respect for human dignity, freedom

and equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. In a few countries in

Europe, efforts have been made to alleviate suffering. In most countries, a serious

confrontation with the abuse has not yet taken place.

When victim groups from all over Europe approached our foundation with the aim of

networking and starting a European initiative, as in Switzerland, we realized we had

to support this project.

We founded the European Justice Initiative and highlighted the suffering of survivors

at the Council of Europe. This led to a resolution demanding that the member states

deal with the cases of abuse according to the Swiss model.

At a major conference in Strasbourg in December 2024, together with the Swiss

Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the

Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development of the

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, we showed how this reappraisal

can be achieved. Now it is up to the member states to adapt their national

legislation.

The exhibition «Shame - European Stories» should open our eyes and pave the way

for a just solution in Europe. The Council of Europe’s support for this exhibition is not

only honorable, but above all, it is meaningful. It shows that Europe, as a community

of values, wants change. The victims, those affected, the survivors – they should all

receive justice in their lifetime.

Guido Fluri

Initiator of the European «Justice Initiative»

MARIJA PEJČINOVIĆ BURIĆ

Sexual violence against children is not only abhorrent, but also the source of deep,

profound and lasting harm. It happens in every country, to children from all

backgrounds, and can take place just once, or repeatedly, anywhere from the

child’s own home or school to their local sports club. Many of these children suffer in

silence, afraid of the consequences of telling the truth about what is happening

to them or of not being believed.

In 2007, the Council of Europe Convention for the protection of children against

sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (also known as «the Lanzarote Convention»)

was adopted. A total of 48 countries are parties to it, including every Council of

Europe member state. The Lanzarote Convention is the most ambitious and

comprehensive international legal instrument in its field with a four-pronged

strategic approach that prioritises prevention, protection, prosecution and the

promotion of national and international co-operation.

I am glad that the Council of Europe has been able to host the exhibition «Shame –

European Stories» at our Strasbourg headquarters and hope that it will act as a spur

to further action.

Marija PEJČINOVIĆ BURIĆ

Secretary General of the Council of Europe 2019-2024

More than 10 years after the Lanzarote Convention entered into force, much has been

achieved, including greater awareness raising, the promotion of effective initiatives,

such as the Children’s Houses’ or Barnahus and the adoption of new legislation in

many countries. Over the years, the work of the Committee of Parties to the

Convention has also enabled the identification of good practices, gaps and trends,

including the new threats posed by Information and Communication Technologies.

It is vitally important that organisations across Europe help to continue this kind of

progress.

So, I commend the Guido Fluri Fondation, through its «Justice Initiative», for giving

a voice and face to survivors of child sexual abuse. This project, first promoted in

Switzerland, aims to shine a light on the reality of child sexual abuse with a very

important emphasis on individuals’ first-hand experiences.

PIERRE ALAIN-FRIDEZ

Portraits and Politics

On 4 October 2021, I tabled, together with other members of the Parliamentary

Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), a motion for a resolution entitled «Child

abuse in Europe: addressing, compensation and prevention» (Doc. 15390). The

motion raised the issue of child abuse in Europe and stressed the need for the Council

of Europe member States to officially recognise the damage caused to the children

who have suffered from sexual, physical, and psychological violence and to ensure

that the survivors of such violence receive adequate reparations and solidarity

contributions. The motion expressed regrets concerning the tendency to undermine

facts of abuse committed in religious or State institutions. It deplored that abuse

victims continue to suffer, due to the traumatic experience and the lack of official

recognition and support.

As a result of the motion, I was appointed as a rapporteur to take a closer look at the

situation in Europe. The aim of this report is to raise similar awareness across Europe

so that people can speak out, survivors can be helped to rebuild their lives and receive

compensation, and tools can be put in place to ensure that such situations never

happen again.

As part of the elaboration of my report, I traveled to Romania because I was particularly

interested in children placed for various reasons in institutional care (hospital homes) in

the 1980s. At that time, harrowing images of such situations sent shock waves through

the international community. Furthermore, the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and

Sustainable Development held a public hearing in Strasbourg on 11 October 2022 with

the participation of two survivors of institutional abuse. As a way to raise awareness

and break the silence on the topic of child abuse, the «Shame – European Stories»

exhibition was shown at the Council of Europe in the margin of the October 2022 PACE

part-session.

In January 2024 the resolution (Res. 2533) and recommendation (Rec. 2269) were

adopted. According to PACE, the abuse of children in institutions in Europe must be

recognised, whether they have been victims of sexual predators, gratuitous violence

or ill-treatment in public, private or religious institutions. Drawing on the example of

good practice in Switzerland, PACE called for «full reparation for all violence committed

against children» that truly reflects the seriousness of and is proportionate to the harm

done. It is essential that member states recognise the suffering endured, provide

management of after-effects, and ensure that victims, regardless of their age, are

awarded compensation as reparation and redress for the harm done, with no time limit

in relation to the date of the offences, the parliamentarians said.

In Europe, we must never again turn a blind eye to the abuse of children, whether

they have been victims of sexual predators, gratuitous violence or ill-treatment in

public, private or religious institutions that are supposed to be safe havens. Too many

children’s futures have been shattered beyond repair.

Pierre Alain-Fridez

Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,

Member of the Swiss National Council

SIMONE PADOVANI

From January to May 2022, I traveled throughout Europe – from Portugal to Romania,

from Greece to Norway, accumulating some 25,000 km – to meet victims of abuse

and maltreatment and to portray and video interview them.

The stories I heard did not pass me by without leaving a trace. They changed

my perception of Europe. In the midst of us live people who have experienced

endless suffering, but have never known justice.

What I tried to tell and pass on to those who will see this project is, how the lives of

the people I met, unfortunately, had a parallel evolutionary line to the natural one.

This happens with abuse. When it happens, the person is forcibly confronted

with a new lifeline. And there have been many, too many parallel lifelines that I

encountered.

And, luckily, there are already people like that, including Guido Fluri, the initiator

of the «Justice Initiative»; Pascal and Vera, with whom I was allowed to realize this

photo project, and all the European associations that have given life to this project

with heart and soul. I can never thank them enough for showing me all their infinite

humanity.

This work is dedicated to all of them, to all these people changing the world with

little miracles.

Simone Padovani

International Photoreporter

This is where the title comes from: «Shame – European Stories». It is a provocation

and, at the same time, a recurring word in the experiences of the victims. Often,

the victims feel ashamed. Most people don’t talk about their experiences or are even

ashamed of themselves. Yet, they are the victims. And it is our shame that we neither

saw the suffering nor heard the silent cries.

The stories of abuse are stories of survival and stories of living on: besides having

suffered inhuman cruelties and living with their consequences every day for life, the

people affected can still make small, incredible gestures towards humanity every

day, giving them humanity back. They don’t ask for anything in return; they do it

because they continue to be human.

We need to change things now and take action, with small gestures, by really listening

to those around us and those crossing our lives, and taking a stand and asking for

solutions from the stakeholders, the governments, and the European Community.

ITALY

I was 13 years old. My mother was very religious. She

sent me to church. And one day the priest raped me...

That was in 1981. It went on for years. When I was 15,

I was devastated. I started taking drugs. I became

ill. It took me almost 40 years to understand why my

life had taken this path for years. One day, however, I

turned my back on death forever, on the desire to

kill myself, which I had carried within me for years. I

became a survivor and began to rise again.

Les coupables sont les gens : les prêtres qui ont abusé

de nous et ceux qui les ont couverts. J’ai souffert, mais

maintenant j’ai une mission dans la vie : offrir la

transparence. Avons-nous atteint ce point ? Demander

aux victimes de faire le travail des autres ? Vous

réalisez à quel point c’est déchirant ? C’est l’une des

raisons pour lesquelles je vis. Mais la communauté,

et le Vatican en particulier, n’ont-ils pas un sentiment

diffus de honte ? Francesco 51

Clergy sexual abuse

Abus sexuels du clergé

When I first heard the word «survivors» I did not

understand what it meant and asked: «the boys who

committed suicide because of the priest were

survivors?» Then I realized I was no longer a victim, but

a survivor.

Je ressens un besoin urgent de dire la même chose à

tout le monde : si vous êtes confrontés à la violence,

vous devez la signaler, et la signaler immédiatement. Et

je ne me soucie pas de mes anciens amis, ces garçons

de l’oratoire, qui aujourd’hui, lorsqu’ils me croisent

dans la rue, changent le bord de la route. Si je n’avais

pas fait ce que j’ai fait, d’autres enfants auraient été

en aussi grand danger que moi. Nous devons tous

prendre nos responsabilités.

Alessandro 24

Clergy sexual abuse


He did not let go of me. I felt like I was paralyzed.

When he let go of me, I ran away, and I remember that

the back of my little dress was wet. I still remember:

it was a little dress my mother had made. She was my

dressmaker. A white and green checkered dress with a

round collar.

Je voudrais que le monde soit plus attentif à la défense

des personnes fragiles, notamment les enfants et les

adolescents. Souvent, ils ne savent pas comment se

défendre. J’aimerais que ceux qui commettent ces

actes ne soient jamais pardonnés, qu’il n’y ait pas de

prescription pour ces crimes et que nous nous

concentrions davantage sur la diffusion du message

selon lequel la violence, en particulier à l’égard des

mineurs, n’est jamais autorisée dans notre culture.

Giuliana 79

Abuse in the family and other abuses

Abus dans la famille et autres abus

I started being sexually abused by an uncle. There had

been an initial attempt at communication in the family,

but it had not been taken into consideration, as it

often happens in families, partly because of the

existing taboo and partly because of the difficulty for

the family members to really accept what had

happened. Dissociative symptoms arise, and

sometimes one thinks one is a ghost living in a body,

which is why one even comes to think of suicide, and

unfortunately many victims choose this path as an

extreme gesture in the hope of putting an end to this

sense of devastating anguish. It is a feeling that totally

sucks you in.

J’aimerais que chacun contribue à changer cette

société, car j’espère que les générations futures

pourront vraiment vivre dans un monde meilleur. De

tels cas continuent de se perpétuer et restent cachés :

souvent, les agresseurs ne sont pas poursuivis, alors

qu’ils ont commis un véritable meurtre psychologique.

Irene 32

Sexual abuse in the family

Abus sexuels dans la famille

SWITZERLAND

The foster father simply was very frustrated with

himself. He came to me and said: «I’ll give you five

minutes; you know where you need to go.» Then he

came and abused me; the first time at the age of

seven and a half. So it went on. When I turned twelve,

I noticed that I was pregnant. I had to give birth to the

child at home, and the child was immediately taken

away from me.

Aujourd’hui, je me sens libérée. Parce qu’il (le père

adoptif) est mort, et j’ai pu tourner la page sur la

plupart des choses. Pas sur tout, mais sur beaucoup

de choses.

Anita 56

Sexual abuse in foster institutions

Abus sexuels dans des institutions d’accueil

At that time, I was ten years old, and the farmer

treated me like a servant. He told me that I was a

servant and nothing more. I endured it only because

there were animals on the farm, and I enjoyed

working with these animals.

Aujourd’hui, je me sens mieux. Mais j’ai toujours le

sentiment d’être un étranger. Des sentiments

d’infériorité surgissent aussi parfois. Je ne m’en suis

jamais débarrassé ; ils sont gravés en moi.

Bernhard 72

Child labour

Travail des enfants

Every day it was made clear to me that I am nothing.

That I was only a burden to others. And you were not

allowed to make any demands, because you were just

dirt. On that basis, there was no place for happiness.

Quand je me suis réveillée après la troisième tentative

de suicide, j’ai dit à Dieu : « Écoute, si tu existes, c’est

ta responsabilité maintenant. Prends contact,

montre-toi, mais c’est entre tes mains maintenant. »

Tout à coup, des portes se sont ouvertes d’une

manière que je n’aurais jamais cru possible. Cela a

renforcé ma foi. J’ai appris que je ne peux pas blâmer

Dieu pour quelque chose que d’autres personnes

ont foiré.

Lydia 72

Child labour and sexual abuse

Travail des enfants et abus sexuels

FRANCE

One day, two people from social services came and

took me away. «Taken away» is the proper term

because my sister remembers me lying in her arms and

clinging to her. I screamed and cried, and I remember

her screaming too. But I was ripped away from her

arms and they sent me far away. Right now, I cannot

remember how often this has happened. But it was

these men who touched me in the dormitory.

J’ai presque envie de crier, de hurler. Il faut prendre

soin des enfants. Il y a beaucoup d’enfants qui

souffrent, beaucoup d’enfants qui sont maltraités,

beaucoup d’enfants qui sont abusés. Alors s’il vous

plaît, gouvernements, autorités, services sociaux,

prenez soin des enfants. C’est aussi votre rôle. C’est

aussi le rôle des parents. Les parents doivent avoir une

attitude aimante et attentionnée envers leurs enfants.

Alors prenez soin d’eux.

Sylvie 54

Abduction, sexual abuse, maltreatment

Enlèvement, abus sexuels, maltraitances

My brother and I were adopted together. And the

abuse started immediately. It was mainly physical and

psychological violence. When I was ten, I made my

first suicide attempt because I was unable to live like

that. It was too hard.

J’ai la chance de ne pas être complètement détruit

psychologiquement et d’avoir pu avoir une réflexion.

C’est ce qui m’a permis de survivre. J’ai compris quelle

est leur méthode pour faire du mal et maintenant c’est

mon but de retourner la situation, de servir la cause,

de témoigner, de me battre.

Javier 44

Abduction, forced adoption, clergy sexual abuse

Enlèvement, adoption forcée, abus sexuels du clergé

I was abused by this family who received money for

looking after us. The father beat me; he was hitting me

hard. The only place I felt safe was under the table.

And another important thing is that every month, my

mom took me to the hairdresser to straighten my hair

because she wanted to erase my origins.

Je dirais à tous les gouvernements, je dirais au monde

qui nous regarde : « Vous n’avez pas le droit de

maltraiter un enfant. Vous n’avez pas le droit de

décider de l’avenir d’un être humain, surtout quand

c’est un enfant ». Nous avons été transférés comme

des objets. Nous avons été placés comme des objets.

Je dirais aux parents qui adoptent aujourd’hui, ne

mentez pas à vos enfants car ces mensonges peuvent

être très, très, très, très, très, très choquants.

Valérie 59

Abduction, forced adoption, maltreatment

Enlèvement, adoption forcée, maltraitances

I was a little Franco-japanese girl of 5 years when I was

sexually abused by a 39 year old cousin during the hot

summer of 1977. These rapes plunged me into a black

hole of 32 years. When my memory resurged, I started

speaking up relentlessly even if these crimes had

already been statute-barred in France.

Ces expériences traumatisantes m’ont ouvert les yeux

sur l’ampleur mondiale des abus sexuels sur les

enfants. J’ai rejoint d’autres survivants et militants

courageux qui s’efforcent de mettre fin à ce fléau.

Notre combat consiste à lutter pour la justice, un

monde équitable et la paix. Nous n’abandonnerons

jamais !

Mie 50



I was between the ages of 8 and 11 when a great-uncle

of mine, who was a missionary, raped me. He

presented it to me as a discovery of my body, then as

a form of sexual education. What followed was almost

10 years of partial traumatic amnesia. I was 12 years old

when two cousins of mine (aged 13 and 15) raped and

abused me. They presented their crime as a game. It

resulted in 15 years of total traumatic amnesia.

Maintenant, je parle, je me montre, parce que je n’ai

plus honte. La honte que je ressentais si fort... Je n’ai

plus honte parce que je veux que les enfants soient

protégés. Je veux que les victimes sachent qu’elles ne

sont pas seules, qu’elles peuvent bénéficier de soins

spécifiques pour les traumatismes psychologiques. Je

veux aussi que l’amnésie traumatique soit reconnue. Je

veux que ceux qui n’ont pas dénoncé ces crimes soient

également poursuivis. Je veux une société plus juste.

Arnaud 41

Clergy sexual abuse and sexual abuse in the family

Abus sexuels du clergé et dans la famille

I was 10 years old that day. I had been a member of

the Scouts St Luc for 2 years already and I loved this

group. One day, we received one of those badges,

which we proudly brought to our admiring moms to

sew on our pullovers. At the end of the meeting, when

Father Bernard released us, he asked me to stay a

little longer. I remember my friends who came out of

the room. Some had a knowing smirk, like they knew

what was waiting for me. Others looked at their shoes

in discomfort and others seemed jealous of the special

attention the Father gave me.

S’il y a plusieurs centaines de victimes en France, il y

en a plusieurs millions dans le monde qui sont

encore en vie. En matière de « crime de masse », il y a

longtemps qu’on n’a pas fait mieux.

François 43

Clergy sexual abuse


The director took me in, started showing me around

and said: «this is the laundry room». He asked me to

undress and started touching me. I struggled, but he

made me understand that it was the law that had put

me here and that I was going to stay here anyway until

I turned 18.

Représentants du monde et des nations modernes,

prenez la défense des enfants et défendez leurs droits

depuis leur naissance jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient adultes.

Faites en sorte que leurs droits soient respectés. Que

tous les pays européens et le monde entier appliquent

les chartes, les déclarations et les conventions qui ont

été signées. Nous devons arrêter la souffrance des

enfants, nous devons arrêter ce carnage. Faites un

effort, et donnez de l’amour à vos semblables.

Fawzy 59

Sexual abuse in the orphanage

Abus sexuels en orphelinat

SPAIN

One night when I was sleeping, he woke me up. I had

crawled out from under the blanket, my trousers were

pulled down and my t-shirt was pulled up. I woke up,

sat up half asleep and pulled up my trousers and the

blanket. I covered myself. But he grabbed me, blinded

me with the torch and pulled me back down to the

floor. He undressed me again and at that moment my

brain shattered.

Ce que je veux vous dire, c’est que l’enfance est le

début de notre vie, le début où l’on construit ses

valeurs, où l’on met en place son mode de vie, où l’on

commence des mauvaises pensées, et où l’on forge sa

personnalité. Tout ce que je veux, c’est que personne

d’autre ne souffre plus jamais ce que j’ai souffert.

Emiliano 55

Clergy sexual abuse


It was raining one day at school, and the priest

invited me to his room to dry off. I was a bit of a lonely

kid. I did not play football like my twin brother, who

was a natural leader. I was a lonelier type of person.

And this man knew my life and my situation very well.

He invited me to his room to dry me off, and that is

where it all started. He was abusing me for more than

a year. Every day.

Je demande au monde d’être perspicace et sensible,

d’être attentif, de se rendre compte quand cela arrive

à un enfant et de remarquer les signes, de réagir de

manière protectrice, et d’éduquer les enfants pour

qu’ils se sentent à l’aise et capables de parler de ces

questions sans tabous et sans le poids de la religion.

Fernando 61

Clergy sexual abuse


The situation I found myself in, did not let me live,

oppressed me and suffocated me. I couldn’t talk about

it, and he also abused my brothers. The burden

became heavier and heavier because I felt guilty and

complicit. And on top of that, I had kept silent and

thought I had let it happen. I felt responsible for the

pedophile’s actions and over the years and with the

help of therapy, I understood that I had done enough

to survive.

De l’âge de 8 à 11 ans, j’ai été abusé sexuellement à

d’innombrables reprises par un entraîneur de football.

Il est certain que si j’avais pu en parler à quelqu’un dès

le début, la souffrance aurait été bien moindre.

Pourtant, ce n’est pas ma faute si cela m’est arrivé à

moi et à d’autres enfants. Car la faute incombe

uniquement et exclusivement à ceux qui commettent

les abus et à ceux qui les couvrent. Si vous voyez un

enfant en danger, ne vous taisez pas. Donnez-lui une

chance de vivre et d’être un enfant.

Pepe 49

Sexual abuse in sports

Abus sexuels dans un cadre sportif

He used to stand up immediately and come and sit

next to me. He used to put his hand inside my trousers

and start groping me. At 12 years old I was not

fully aware of what was happening, but I knew it was

not normal and that I did not like it.

Il y a quelque chose d’encore plus blessant que l’abus :

la dissimulation et la revictimisation. L’église devrait

être responsable de l’atténuation de la douleur causée

par ces crimes, surtout en tant que visage de la bonté

et du christianisme. Une personne qui prétend porter

l’étendard de la bonté ne peut jamais commettre

ces crimes et lorsqu’elle le fait, elle devrait être punie

plus sévèrement.

Juan 25

Clergy sexual abuse


What should never have happened indeed occurred.

A priest sexually abused me in his role as an adult,

and, furthermore, he shattered the trust and respect

that my parents had instilled in me toward my elders,

particularly my teachers.

Nous devons lutter sans relâche contre ces personnes

dans tous les domaines, mais surtout dans l’église,

car elles entraînent des générations d’enfants qui ont

perdu une grande partie de leur enfance, de leur

spontanéité et de leurs illusions, en portant un tel

fardeau dans le silence de leur esprit.

Patricia 66

Clergy sexual abuse


He told me that he loved me, that our relationship was

special. A poisoned love that destroyed me, without

realizing it, inside. Love was not that, it was child

sexual abuse, and a girl like me, between the ages of

9 and 11, was not able to assimilate it, destroying me

emotionally.

Il est difficile de guérir et de mener une vie épanouie.

La guérison ne signifie pas que le mal n’a pas existé,

la guérison signifie que ce qui vous a causé de la

douleur ne contrôle plus votre vie, mais cela n’enlève

pas la responsabilité des auteurs. Aucun enfant ne doit

devenir adulte de cette manière, c’est trop dur.

Inma 46

Clergy sexual abuse


I have suffered the misogyny and contempt of the

church when I was abused by a friar and when the

abuse was used to grant marriage nullity to my

husband. The Church should be the opposite:

compassionate and welcoming.

L’enfer, c’est les autres, disait Sartre. Plus

concrètement, l’enfer, c’est vous, les pédophiles.

Teresa 57

Clergy sexual abuse


At a scout camp, I met an educator who was married

and had an adopted son. He and his wife were

awarded the title of exemplary foster family in the

province of Jaén, and he started treating me very well.

A few years later, he met me in a chat room. He

insisted that we meet, got me into his car and raped me.

He sexually assaulted me twice. My life turned upside

down and I’ve never been the same since. For him, there

are practically no consequences, for me, on the other

hand, the consequences are lifelong.

En Espagne et au sein de l’Union européenne, je

demande qu’un cadre juridique soit élaboré pour

protéger véritablement toutes les victimes d’infractions

sexuelles et garantir leur bien-être. Il faut contraindre les

institutions civiles ou ecclésiastiques responsables à

assumer leur part de responsabilité, afin qu’elles

prennent cette question au sérieux et mettent en place

des mesures vigoureuses et des plans de prévention

futurs efficaces pour agir et veiller au respect des

droits humains.

Guillermo 30

Sexual abuse in scouts

Abus sexuels chez les scouts

All were secrets, games and something else that I

could not tell, my protector, my tormentor, I have no

memory of a childhood without sexual abuse by my

biological father. With adolescence, when I revealed

myself at the age of 16, the abuses ended and the

tortures began, which annulled me as a person and

undermined my self-esteem, the psychological abuse

was continuous, the family was not my refuge, it was

my prison, locked up with a monster in sheep’s clothing.

Il faut créer un réseau de protection contre les abus

sexuels au sein de la famille, une alerte précoce à

l’école et dans le système de santé, un soutien institutionnel

pour que les enfants ne soient pas enfermés

avec leurs bourreaux, un soutien socio-sanitaire pour

les conséquences graves de ces abus à l’adolescence

et à l’âge adulte, qui les empêchent de normaliser

leur vie et leur travail et, surtout, sensibiliser la société

à un drame caché sous le toit de ses maisons.

Amor 51



«It’s that you don’t love me.» A phrase that hammered

my ears day after day, between groping and kisses

with the taste and smoke of tobacco, taking

advantage of the safety of the elevator or any moment

alone, it was a way to reinforce the manipulation that

allowed him to use me as he pleased. Would this be

normal? And who could I talk to about these things?

Who could I tell?

Aujourd’hui, je vous lance un appel : nous ne devons

pas nous arrêter une seconde dans la lutte contre la

maltraitance des enfants ! Ils ne peuvent pas se

défendre. Nous sommes leur bouclier. Nous devons

toujours être vigilants, ne jamais baisser la garde. Et si,

par malheur, une agression se produit, faisons tout ce

qui est en notre pouvoir, dès le premier instant, pour

que les dégâts commencent à être réparés.

Alfonso 56

Clergy sexual abuse


It stole my childhood, adolescence and a large part

of my adult life, due to the trauma and after-effects

caused by the sexual abuse suffered by my father from

the age of 6 to 16.

J’aimerais que mon témoignage inspire d’autres

victimes, afin qu’elles ne restent pas silencieuses

aussi longtemps que moi. Raconter son histoire libère

et aide à guérir les blessures.

Laura 54



PORTUGAL

They considered us savages; just because we had no

mother or father. Because I had transcribed something

wrong, the director punched me in the eye with his

watch and almost made me lose my sight. My mouth is

like this because of the beating they gave me.

Les personnes qui vivent dans une institution ne sont

pas des sauvages ; ce sont simplement des personnes

sans père ni mère. Elles ont besoin de compréhension,

d’amour et d’affection. Dans les institutions, les enfants

grandissent souvent dans la violence, mais ils ont

besoin d’accompagnement, d’aide psychologique et

de soutien pour grandir.

Marco 31

Abuse in foster institutions

Abus dans des institutions d’accueil

He told me that I couldn’t tell anyone because he was

a priest and I was a girl; that my word against his was

nothing. My word was worth nothing. If I told the

sisters, the sisters would send me away from the

congregation. They wouldn’t want someone like me,

who wasn’t pure and what would I be left with doing

nothing? And that caused me to be enormously fearful

that all this would be discovered. I was not guilty, of

being abused, but it ended with this blackmail.

Je vous dis qu’il s’agit de vies brisées, de personnalités

brisées, de rêves brisés. Un monde brisé. Ce sont des

enfants qui éprouvaient tant de joie en eux, et après

les maltraitances, tout cela a disparu. Le problème,

c’est toute la société qui laisse faire, qui se montre

indifférente et qui n’en parle pas.

Filipa 43

Clergy sexual abuse


It happened on holiday, at a relative’s house. As soon as

I was able, I rang home to ask for help, for them to come

and pick me up, and they did. When I got home and told

them everything that had happened, nobody did

anything. Today I know it was out of fear of facing the

family and hope that I would forget since I was little.

Something you never forget and leaves marks for life.

Les enfants ne mentent pas et ne parlent que de la

réalité qu’ils connaissent. Alors quand un enfant vous

demande de l’aide, aidez-le ! Ne doutez jamais ! Nous

devons agir, protéger les enfants, même ceux qui ne

réalisent pas encore qu’ils ont besoin d’aide. La

prévention n’est possible qu’avec l’information et

l’éducation. L’État a l’obligation d’assurer la sécurité de

ces enfants et de les soustraire rapidement et

définitivement aux agresseurs, de leur apporter tout

type de soutien et de faciliter les plaintes, pour une

action rapide et sérieuse de la justice.

Melania 38



Once, the priest took me hitchhiking with him to Porto

to visit a benefactress. At night, when the lady said:

«I’ve already found a couch for the boy», he said, «No,

that’s not necessary; the boy sleeps with me». So that

night he took my hand to feel his testicles and to

masturbate. This behavior was repeated by him on

other occasions at the Refugio da Mãe do Céu.

La douleur, le souvenir et le traumatisme d’un enfant

maltraité ou violé sont imprescriptibles. C’est pourquoi

il ne peut pas non plus y avoir de prescription pour les

crimes de cette nature. Cette prescription est un

trophée pour les abuseurs et les criminels.

António 70

Clergy sexual abuse


I was five, almost six, and my mother sent me to a

catholic boarding school run by nuns to protect me

from society and the brutal conditions we lived in. I

was abused from the age of five to nine by a priest

who was in that institution. The first time was in a

confessional. He took a dream away from me, that of

having a family of my own, which I still don’t have,

because I am very afraid that the same thing will

happen to my children.

La douleur ne prescrit pas ! La prescription, dans

le cas d’abus sur des enfants... est le plus grand acte

de lâcheté qui existe !

Cristina 52

Clergy sexual abuse


IRELAND

I was stolen from my mother and put in a religious

mother-child home and they would not tell her where

I was. They gave me away without her or my consent.

They had no right to do that.

Personne ne devrait avoir le droit de voler un enfant à

sa mère simplement parce qu’elle est jeune et non

mariée. Les conséquences sont traumatisantes et

dommageables. Nous devons protéger les droits de

l’enfant. Les enfants doivent être protégés à tout

moment.

Oona 53

Abduction, foster institution

Enlèvement, institution d’accueil

Still today, it is shocking to know that I was

subjected to human experimentation as a child in

Ireland in a mother and child institution, run by a

Catholic order. Several mixed-race children like me

were selected for a polio vaccination trial in 1965

without our mothers’ consent. This was a violation of

the Nuremberg Code.

Les enfants ont des droits humains et doivent être

protégés contre la discrimination raciale et les

violations des droits de l’homme. Les enfants à risque

ne doivent plus jamais être utilisés dans des

expériences sur l’homme sans le plein consentement

de leurs parents ou tuteurs. En tant qu’enfants,

nous n’avions pas de voix, et nos mères célibataires

non plus.

Conrad 58

Abuse in foster institutions, clinical trials

Maltraitance dans les institutions d’accueil, essais cliniques

I had to sleep with a man, their son, who was 21 years

older than me; he assaulted me, and sexually abused

me. He abused me physically and so did the old man.

He actually started grooming me from the time I went

there.

Beaucoup d’enfants comme mes frères et moi ont été

victimes de divers types d’abus, qu’il s’agisse d’abus

physiques, d’abus sexuels, de séparation d’avec

leur famille, de manque d’éducation. Il faut d’abord

reconnaître chaque enfant qui a été placé dans un

foyer, dans une famille d’accueil, dans une pension et

dire que ces survivants méritent plus.

James 72



I was taken out for convenience to work on a farm as a

laborer. I was beaten several times. He would take his

belt off, pull down my pants, put me across his

knees, and smack me. The blood came out of my bum.

Nous avons besoin de dignité et de respect. Pour ce

qui a été tracé à travers nous.

Peter 79



NORWAY

I remember sitting down on the couch there. The

others went dancing, dancing with older boys and

having a great time. I sat on the couch, and I was

offered a glass of soda. I took it. I do not remember

anything more from that night before I woke up, and a

man was lying on top of me and having sex with me. I

came to myself when that happened.

En général, nous devrions tous veiller les uns sur les

autres et nous assurer que tout le monde est en

sécurité. Je suis obligée d’apparaître en public et

d’assumer cette énorme responsabilité.

Iris 34

Sexual abuse

Abus sexuels

It was the first time I met my uncle. He was a

pedophile, and he abused me. I didn’t understand that

secret then, or that it was completely wrong.

Depuis la nuit des temps, des milliers de personnes

se sont battues pour nous. Toutes ces femmes

courageuses et étonnantes. Elles ont toutes souffert

de négligence et ont été traitées comme des objets.

Je leur donne toute ma compassion et mon respect.

Alors, aux hommes et aux femmes qui ont le choix,

utilisez votre voix, exprimez-vous et mettez fin à

cette violence.

Letisha 35

Sexual abuse

Abus sexuels

SWEDEN

The sexual abuse started when I was 12 years old and

continued throughout my teenage years. The last

time it happened was when I was 20. Now I have

nightmares every night and I still find it difficult to deal

with the psychological consequences. I often have

panic attacks. I used to think it was my fault and I felt

ashamed. I felt that it would be my fault if more sexual

assaults happened to me.

Ce qui importe maintenant, c’est que vous tous, en

tant qu’êtres humains et société civile, devez devenir

bien meilleurs pour écouter les enfants. Je tiens

également à dire aux responsables politiques de

renforcer les lois protégeant les droits des enfants. En

outre, nous devons renforcer le travail de détection et

d’identification afin de localiser les enfants victimes

d’agressions sexuelles.

Saga 23

Sexual abuse and exploitation

Abus et exploitation sexuels

FINLAND

When it happened for the first time, he had just been

touching me. Then I was once again home alone,

watching TV, and when I left the room, he grabbed

me by the shoulder and sort of pushed me down in

the bed. He grabbed me, ripped my pants off by force

and threw me on my stomach. That’s the first time he

came all the way inside, and raped me there.

Se remettre d’un crime de violence sexuelle prend

beaucoup de temps, et il faut beaucoup de temps

avant de pouvoir le révéler à qui que ce soit, surtout

dans les cas d’inceste au sein de la famille. Nous avons

besoin de changements législatifs importants.

Heli 49

Sexual abuse

Abus sexuels

My abusers are both my parents. My mother has told

me that even as a small baby I was spanked for crying.

So that kind of violence has been present. My earliest

memories were related to sexual abuse. My father

has admitted that he raped me for the first time when

I was around 4-5-years old.

Comment pouvez-vous fermer votre cœur à des

enfants si petits et faire quelque chose d’aussi horrible ?

Vous devriez avoir honte !

Seijamirjami 44

Sexual abuse

Abus sexuels

I stayed at the home of a familiar family quite often,

and that’s where my trauma of sexual abuse took place.

And because I spent quite a few nights there, I was also

traumatised by the knowledge that where I stayed,

other children were also abused. It is strange how such

a small child can feel guilty for not being able to do

anything about it.

Tout d’abord, je voudrais m’adresser aux décideurs de

l’Église laestadienne. Comment pouvez-vous agir ou

plutôt, ne pas agir quand vous savez ce qui est fait à

ces petits enfants dans vos églises ? Il y a ceux

d’entre vous qui ont les moyens d’intervenir. Et vous

ne le faites pas. Nous, les victimes, nous vous avons dit

ce qui pouvait être fait pour intervenir, mais non. Rien

n’est fait. Et je voudrais également adresser un

message similaire à l’Église luthérienne : pourquoi

n’intervenez-vous pas dans votre propre communauté,

mais aussi par rapport aux abus qui ont lieu dans ces

petites communautés religieuses ?

Outi 49

Sexual abuse

Abus sexuels

I was about eight years old when this person came

into my life and led me into a world not meant for

children. It became our secret and I was also told that

I had done something wrong. This developed into a

kind of wall of shame within which I spent my

childhood and into which I grew. My own idea of what

normal development is for a child, for example,

became incredibly distorted, and it took me a very

long time to learn to understand that.

Les gens doivent voir les enfants, voir leurs inquiétudes

et regarder derrière leurs sourires. Il faut entendre

l’histoire que personne n’ose raconter. Quant à la

sanction, elle devrait au moins exiger que la personne

soit présente dans la thérapie de la victime. Cela

serait plus proche d’une véritable punition. Mais je ne

sais pas comment parvenir à une situation où les

délinquants comprennent ce qu’ils ont fait. Car il

semble souvent qu’ils ne comprennent pas l’impact de

leurs actions. Et ce n’est que par cette compréhension

qu’un véritable changement pourrait avoir lieu.

Minna 48

Sexual abuse

Abus sexuels

DENMARK

I was exposed to sexual abuse in my childhood in

Emdrupvej, where I grew up. It started with my

parents not knowing that there was such a person in

the village, a friend of theirs. Unfortunately, I do not

remember how many times, but it happened many

times. I had many suicidal thoughts because of it. I was

ashamed and depressed.

Il s’agira d’un processus à vie où je devrai peut-être

non seulement consulter des psychologues, mais aussi

des psychothérapeutes, faire des traitements

corporels et bien plus encore. Parce que cela ne s’est

pas seulement manifesté dans ma tête, mais aussi dans

mon corps. Je dois aussi réapprendre à connaître

mon corps.

Mikael 51

Sexual abuse

Abus sexuels

NETHERLANDS

Immediately after my birth I was given up. I ended up

being placed in a foster home where life got better.

Only much later, after looking at my documents and

after hearing the stories from my biological sister, did I

find out that my biological father did not agree to give

me up. He fought for 5 years to undo this. The authorities

have not even investigated whether growing up

with my father and grandmother was not a much better

option than a home, where the conditions were

certainly not the best in the 1960s.

Ce que je voudrais dire, c’est que même aujourd’hui,

lorsque des enfants sont séparés de leurs parents,

qu’ils se retrouvent en famille d’accueil ou dans une

institution, nous devons nous rappeler que les enfants

portent toujours leurs parents avec eux. Les parents,

même s’ils ne sont pas présents, font partie de l’identité

de l’enfant. Je pense que les autorités ne devraient

pas l’oublier. Parfois, les parents sont un peu écartés et

je pense que ce n’est pas bon, surtout pour les enfants.

Monique 56

Forced adoption

Adoption forcée

I was adopted by Dutch parents who have 2 children of

their own. I grew up in a good family, but when I

started searching for my birth parents, I found out by

doing a DNA test that my «biological mother» in fact

wasn’t her. I felt that my identity was taken away from

me. I later found out that my adoption papers were

swapped, with those of a little boy who also was given

up for adoption.

Si vous êtes adopté ou immigré, ou si vous n’avez pas

été élevé dans votre pays, votre culture ou votre

famille, partez à la recherche de vos origines. Allez

visiter votre lieu de naissance, votre pays natal, ou

retrouvez votre famille, parce que c’est important pour

vous en tant que personne sensible, pour vos

sentiments. Le corps ne le nie pas. Il est très facile de

le mettre de côté, et il est également très effrayant de

travailler sur vos sentiments. Découvrez quelles

sont vos origines et d’où elles viennent. Elles sont

importantes.

Rodrigo 41

Adoption papers were swapped

Documents d‘adoption échangés

BELGIUM

I was born to a white Belgian father and a Congolese

mother. I grew up with my brother and grandparents

in Belgium. Suddenly, we found a sister who lived in

the Congo. We had known nothing about her. She

showed us a notebook with our grandparents’ address

in Belgium and photos of us and our cousin. We

realised that our father had kept in touch with her

and sent her things. She explained to us that she had

known all her life that she was an illegitimate child. But

she thought she was not welcome in the family.

Nous devons aborder cette question honnêtement et

nous devons montrer qu’il existe une volonté de

changer et de réparer. Nous devons réaliser l’impact

que le colonialisme a eu et que le racisme a encore

sur les enfants qui en souffrent, mais aussi sur tout le

monde. Cela doit cesser et nous devons réparer et

empêcher que les mêmes choses se reproduisent.

Claudine 70

Colonial abuses

Abus coloniaux

I know it was not easy for my daughter either. She also

faced racist reactions at school, all hidden behind a

smile. It is anything but easy. It is still hard. That’s why

I tell her that she is the product of different ethnicities,

of people with infinite courage who fought for her

existence. And she has become the great result of their

struggle.

Nous ne vivons plus comme au siècle dernier, lorsque

les gouvernements craignaient que les personnes

« métisses » soient aussi compétentes que les « Blancs »

et qu’elles protègent donc leur côté « Noir ». Le temps

a passé et cette conception n’est plus actuelle. Vivre

ensemble rend la vie plus riche. Tous les humains

appartiennent à une même race, vivre ensemble rend

la vie plus riche. Aucun enfant ne devrait être victime

du racisme. Un enfant est sacré.

Sandra 55

Colonial abuses (second generation)

Abus coloniaux (seconde génération)

As I found out through my research, I was born in

France. My birth certificate does not mention my

parents’ names and does not contain any information.

I was picked up by a Belgian institute and then

adopted by a family. I have been born with a hereditary

disease that affects my kidneys. But since there was

no information about me at birth, there was no way

to treat me. When the doctor asked my stepmother

about a kidney disease in the family, she couldn’t give

an answer. Belgian institute had deleted all relevant

information.

Nos racines nous appartiennent, nous ne devons pas

en être coupés. J’espère que mes messages ne se

perdront pas ou n’échoueront pas car les enfants qui

grandissent restent plus forts lorsqu’ils savent qui ils

sont et qui sont leurs parents.

Benoit 60

Forced adoption

Adoption forcée

This story is painful. It is a story of separation. It is a

story of colonial violence. It is a story of people

who do not realise the damage they are doing. They

are part of a system, a system that does not take

responsibility.

Je crois que chaque personne et son histoire

constituent la société. Il me semble important que les

institutions qui nous entourent racontent la longue

histoire d’une société. Dans ces sociétés, au milieu de

ces institutions, il y a des gens qui naissent et meurent.

Nous ne faisons que passer, tandis que les institutions

restent. Ces institutions doivent pouvoir incarner le

meilleur de ce que nous sommes, le meilleur de ce que

la société peut transmettre. La Belgique a une histoire

douloureuse et honteuse : celle du colonialisme.

Olivier 55

Colonial abuses (second generation)

Abus coloniaux (seconde génération)

I was born during the colonial period. My father was

Belgian, my mother was African. After my father’s

death, the Belgian colonial administration forbade my

mother to keep us. After three attempts, the police

took us away and put us in a special children’s

institution for mulattos. They isolated us from the

white and black communities and resettled us in

Belgium, where I grew up separated from my siblings.

I was a very lonely child in a difficult family. No money

was spent on me because I was the child of a

forbidden love: too smart to trust, too beautiful

to be loved.

J’espère un changement. Chacun peut prendre soin de

l’autre. Chacun peut changer les choses pour le mieux.

Jacqui 66

Colonial abuses

Abus coloniaux

GERMANY

And that’s where the first assault happened in the

morning. He fondled me, and yes, he took advantage of

my weakness at that moment. That is hard for me.

It culminated in a six-week holiday camp, away from the

big scout camps.

Ces actions se déroulent dans des compartiments

différents, séparés les uns des autres. Il y a les familles,

il y a les différents groupes de jeunes, et ils veulent

tout garder dans ces tiroirs. Et si vous regardez dedans

un instant, ils veulent que vous les refermiez

rapidement. Essayez de voir les connexions et de

rassembler les différents compartiments.

Harald 55

Sexual abuse in scouts

Abus sexuels chez les scouts

This priest ignored any risk of being discovered and

chose the most unthinkable places to commit his rapes:

The gallery in the chapel where they all played the

organ and the church choir usually sang, the sacristy

or the gym. Or the shower room or the photo lab in

the school. In every conceivable place he did what he

wanted to do.

Mettez les enfants en valeur. Les droits de l’enfant sont

des droits humains, inscrivez les droits des enfants

dans les lois de tous les pays. Et à vous tous, amis,

voisins et concitoyens : Intervenez lorsque vous voyez

des violences contre les enfants.

Karl 71

Clergy sexual abuse


As a student at a prestigious school, I was sexually

abused by two Jesuit priests. They forced me to do

what they wanted and told me it was for my own good.

They abused my trust and my faith. This shaped my life,

my relationships with other people and my relationship

with myself. I was ashamed beyond measure. And I

kept silent.

Enfin en parler après des décennies de silence a été

un acte de libération. Depuis, je veux que toutes les

personnes qui ont subi des violences dans leur enfance

puissent connaître cette libération. Pour beaucoup de

gens, le sujet est inconfortable. Je le comprends.

Mais si nous voulons que les enfants et les jeunes

grandissent dans un monde sans violence sexuelle, en

tant que société, nous devons apprendre à écouter.

Matthias 59

Clergy sexual abuse


AUSTRIA

My first childhood memories are marked by violence,

alcohol and abuse. And the constant moving back and

forth between home and children’s homes. For me,

it was torture to go to a new home or foster family.

I returned home happy every time, despite the brutality

at home.

Oui, les personnes importantes et puissantes devraient

aussi être tenues responsables au même titre que

ceux qui ont fait de telles choses aux enfants. Peu

importe comment. Aujourd’hui, on dit que les enfants

doivent vivre avec ça, et les enfants souffrent à vie.

Et en tant qu’adulte, le traumatisme revient encore

et encore, surtout aujourd’hui. Vous ne pouvez pas y

faire face.

Romana 64

Sexual, physical and mental abuse in foster institutions

Abus sexuels, maltraitances physiques et psychiques dans des institutions

She made us masturbate while she was standing in the

shower room or sitting on a stool. She (the governess)

pulled so hard that it started to bleed.

Il y a des signes avant-coureurs à tout abus ! Et lorsque

les gens remarquent ces signes, il est alors garanti

qu’une partie des abus peut être évité. Et c’est ce que

je souhaite.

Robert 71

Sexual, physical, and mental abuse in foster institutions

Abus sexuels, maltraitances physiques et psychiques dans des institutions

SLOVENIA

Hitler came to Styria in Maribor and gave the order to

make this country German again. I was ten years old.

When we were arrested and taken to the camp, I was

put in a group that did something like pre-military

training. I would say that I was tortured because I was

persecuted and forced to behave in a way that was

foreign to me.

De telles tyrannies qui ont lieu sont la chose la plus

horrible qu’un être humain puisse faire. En effet, nous

devons souvent nous demander si de telles personnes

sont dignes de l’humanité, si un groupe de personnes

qui traite ses semblables avec autant de mépris est

encore digne de vivre dans notre société, parmi nous.

Parce que la violence qui a été perpétrée, que ce soit

contre des enfants ou contre des familles, est

monstrueuse. Et tous ceux d’entre nous qui l’ont vécue

et y ont survécu sont probablement unanimes pour

dire que de telles choses ne doivent jamais se répéter.

Janez 90

Stolen child during WW2

Enfant volé pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale

I experienced sexual abuse by my grandfather. Between

the ages of five and eight. My family was very close to

my grandfather. He was an important part of our lives,

but my parents often left me in his care. And that’s how

it started.

Le plus petit commentaire peut faire la différence. Si

nous sommes prêts à écouter les gens et à voir de

telles choses, nous pouvons aider beaucoup d’autres

personnes. Et en parler ne peut que faire du bien. Cela

ne peut jamais faire de mal.

Tjaša 28



SERBIA

On November 20, 1981, I happily arrived at Narodni Front

Maternity Hospital thinking that I had come to give

birth. I arrived at 10:10 and very soon I noticed that the

whole staff was a bit nervous. After an hour or two, they

told me that something was wrong. They were

preparing me for induction to speed up the birth. I was

so distressed and scared. The midwife told me to turn

my head away so that I would not see the birth of the

child because I would give birth to a stillborn child with

half a head.

Je serais si heureuse d’embrasser mon enfant. Je dirais

simplement : « Où es-tu, mon fils ? Tu es tout ce que

j’ai au monde. »

Dušanka 64

Her child was stolen from the maternity ward

Son enfant volé dans la maternité

We are victims of human trafficking in Belgrade. They

just took away my child; they took away my health; they

took away my life.

Je m’adresse à tous les gouvernants du monde : votre

bébé ne vous a pas été enlevé. Aidez donc à faire

passer des lois, non seulement en Serbie mais dans le

monde entier, qui accordent à chaque mère le droit de

savoir où se trouve son enfant et accordent à

chaque mère la décision de garder son enfant ou de le

faire adopter. Vous, les enfants, vous n’avez rien à

vous reprocher.

Milena 65

Her child was stolen from the maternity ward

Son enfant volé dans la maternité

I was at work. I am a delivery man and I distribute bread

from Obrenovac to Arandjelovac. When I arrived in Novi

Beograd to see what had happened to our child, they

would not let me see it. Once again, me and my wife

were kicked out. They said the child was fine. And when

I called the hospital later that day, they said everything

was alright.

Les personnes malveillantes qui ont acheté les enfants

d’autres personnes devraient au moins dire à leurs

enfants qu’elles les ont achetés. Et ils devraient savoir

qu’ils ont des parents qui sont en vie, en bonne

santé et qui ont une famille. Le monde entier ignore

l’existence de ces enfants.

Tomislav 72

His child was stolen from the hospital

Son enfant volé à l’hôpital

I had the feeling that my whole world collapsed. When I

got there to school, I had a feeling that he actually took

away my childhood. The place I loved the most was

become a place of fear. Someone is using your body

and you have a feeling that there is nothing you can do

and the most you can do is say «Please don’t». But much

worse for me is the feeling that I am different from

everyone else. From that moment begins a life consumed

with fear.

Nous devons expliquer aux enfants ce qu’est un abus

sexuel et comment il se produit. Comment une relation

de confiance peut-elle se transformer en une telle chose

du jour au lendemain ? Nous devons parler en tant que

société et que tous les citoyens de ce monde acceptent

que cela se passe partout : dans les églises, dans les

écoles, dans les familles. Et qu’il ne s’agit pas d’une

histoire exclusive, d’un scandale, d’une folie inattendue

qui frappe maintenant, soudainement. Non, cela arrive

tout le temps et la seule façon de protéger nos enfants

est de cesser d’en faire un sujet tabou.

Milena 28

Sexual abuse

Abus sexuels

KOSOVO *

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be

understood in full compliance with United Nations‘ Security Council Resolution 1244 and without

prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

* Toute référence au Kosovo mentionnée dans ce texte, qu’elle concerne le territoire, les institutions

ou la population, doit se comprendre en pleine conformité avec la Résolution 1244 du

Conseil de Sécurité de l’Organisation des Nations Unies et sans préjuger du statut du Kosovo.

In 1998, war broke out in Kosovo. I remember I was 16

years old on 14 April 1999. A Serbian policeman came to

our house and kidnapped me. He took me to a nearby

Serbian village where I was raped and abused brutally

by an officer and a civilian.

Mon message au monde, aux hommes politiques, aux

personnes au pouvoir est de faire tout ce qu’il faut

pour mettre fin à la violence sexuelle dans les conflits

et la paix. Et mon message à vous est de mettre un

terme à cela, afin d’avoir un meilleur avenir pour nos

jeunes générations.

Vasfije 39

War sexual abuse

Abus sexuels de guerre

ROMANIA

I noticed what was going on in the centre: drugs,

prostitution, beatings among children, beatings among

the staff and the children. Some educators drove a

wedge between the children. When I tried to talk about

what was going on in the center, I started to pose

a threat.

Je voudrais que les enfants des institutions soient

réellement impliqués dans la société à travers

différents projets et activités. J’espère que d’ici 2023,

les budgets consacrés aux enfants augmenteront et

que leurs besoins seront entendus.

Andreea 21

Abuse in family and in foster institutions

Abus dans la famille et dans les institutions d’accueil

My mother died when I was born. My father left me.

And the authorities took us children away and put us in

orphanages. I do not remember exactly where. We all

had trouble integrating into society.

Les autorités qui s’occupent des enfants qui quittent

le système, ou des jeunes en général, devraient y

regarder de plus près. J’ai dû faire face à la

discrimination et à l’humiliation derrière des portes

closes.

Vasile 41



My mother died when I was born. My father died

the day after. I grew up in a time when the education

system did not offer the equal opportunities it claims

to offer.

Il est très important que le monde nous comprenne.

Je veux dire les parlements, les gouvernements,

les institutions et certains pays, en particulier ceux

d’Europe de l’Est. Certaines mesures ne sont prises

que s’ils y sont contraints. Ils partent du principe qu’il y

a des problèmes plus importants que ceux pour

lesquels nous nous battons.

Cosmin 22



When we arrived, it was very bad. No electricity, no

water. Children crying, screaming, fighting. We were

bitten by live rats and they were acting like they

couldn’t be bothered.

Nous devons mettre fin aux abus. Je veux une vie

meilleure pour nous et pour tous ceux qui ont été

maltraités.

Sirmanca 37

Abuse in orphanage

Abus dans l’orphelinat

GREECE

The strangest and most tragic aspect of all this is that it

happened on New Year’s Eve. And somehow our new

year began as a completely broken family. What was

left of my family was that we were all isolated in

different environments: my mother was dead, my father

was in the psychiatric hospital, my sister was in the

hospital where she had attempted suicide, my brother

was with my mother’s family, and I – the difficult one –

was placed in an institution for girls. There was a lot of

anger and pain and a feeling of despair among all family

members.

Je voulais dire que vous devez aimer les gens

indépendamment de leur sexualité, de la couleur de

leur peau et de leur nationalité et ne pas les juger.

N’isolez pas et ne stigmatisez pas les gens parce qu’ils

sont différents de vous.

Effie 21

Parental neglect followed by institutionalisation

Négligence parentale suivie d’un placement en institution

After spending 13 years of my life in institutions, what

happened to me was devastating. The worst thing that

happened to me as a child was losing the ability to love

and be loved.

Je pense que nous devrions tous nous occuper des

enfants. Les aider à vivre dans de meilleures conditions

pour faire du monde un meilleur endroit où vivre.

Argyris 63



Things were good at first, but then the grown-ups

started abusing me. Then, the director of the

foundation started locking me in rooms without light,

food, or water for days. When I finally started to

retaliate (I was 11 years old at the time). they put me in a

mental institution.

Les choses doivent changer dans les institutions.

Aucun enfant ne devrait subir de mauvais traitements.

Aucun enfant ne devrait être enfermé et maltraité

dans une pièce, dans n’importe quel pays.

Theodoros 27



Find all pictures and interviews as well as all texts

concerning the situation in individual countries at

https://justice-initiative.eu/shame-europeanstories/

Scan the QR code for quick access.

Retrouvez toutes les photos et interviews ainsi

que tous les textes concernant la situation dans les

différents pays à l’adresse suivante

https://justice-initiative.eu/shame-europeanstories/

Scannez le code QR pour un accès rapide

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Italy

Rete L’Abuso

Eca Global

La Gabbianella

Amnesty International

Italia Università di Pisa

Associazione il Provolo

Gian Carlo Bruno

Save The Children Emergency

Switzerland

Anne Berger

Corina Dürr

Sonja Glauser-Rychener

Maria Belén Munoz Gerstein

Vera Pagnoni

Tânia Fluri-Simão

France

Sylvie Arcos

Erick-Alexander Mijangos

Valérie Andanson

Élisabeth Rabesandratana

Laurent Sermet

Sylviane Paulinet

Jean-Lucien Herry

Jean-Claude Giannota

Cécile Baquey

Anne David

Marion Felman

Pierre Verdier

Stefania Cateleta

Spain

Juan Cuatrecasas Asua

Leticia De La Hoz

Juan Cuatrecasas Cuevas

Pepe Godoy

Fernando García Salmones

Emiliano Álvarez

Javier Méndez

Alberto Cano

Isabel Campos Pérez (Constanza Rúa)

Covadonga González

Mamen Escalante

José Manuel Vidal

Jesús Bastante

Ana Cuevas

Portugal

Instituto de Apoio à Criança

Marco Branco

Melânia Gomes

Filipa Almeida

Antonio Vieira Grosso

Ireland

Conrad Bryan

Smrithi Jacob

Norway

Ecpat Norge

Sweden

Child10

Inte din Hora

Finland

Protect Children/Suojellaan Lapsia ry

Denmark

Landsforeningen Spor

Netherlands

Rodrigo van Rutte

Monique Weustink

Belgium

Jacqui Goegebeur

Germany

Maria Mesrian

Karl Haucke

Matthias Katsch

Austria

Weisser Ring

Romana Schwab

Natascha Smertnig

Slovenia

Tita Mayer

Prof. Dr. Darja Zaviršek

Tomaž Mikuš

Janez Cerar

Serbia

Mila Tolstoj

Jovan Krstic

Ana Stanimirov

Jovanka Lazarević

Marina Lazarević

Milena Radulović

Kosovo

Serbeze Haxhiaj

Romania

Phoneo Association

The Museum of Abandoment

Andy Guth

Maria Roth

Daniel Rucareanu

Consiliul Tinerilor Institutionalizati

Greece

Eliza - Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Children

Impressum

SHAME – EUROPEAN STORIES

Title: «SHAME – EUROPEAN STORIES»

Photography: © Simone Padovani

Concept: © Krauthammer & Partner

Publisher: Guido Fluri Foundation

Schulhausstrasse 10

CH-6330 Cham

Switzerland

Developmental Editors: Pascal Krauthammer & Vera Pagnoni

Layout: Krauthammer & Partner

Publication date: November 2024

On the web: www.justice-initiative.eu

© Guido Fluri Foundation

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied,

stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means without the

prior written permission of the publisher or the holders of the rights.

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