Strasbourg December 2024

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Sexual abuse in the family
Abus sexuels dans la famille

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Sexual abuse in the family
Abus sexuels dans la famille

«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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Sexual abuse in the family
Abus sexuels dans la famille

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Sexual abuse in the family
Abus sexuels dans la famille

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Sexual abuse in foster institutions
Abus sexuels dans des institutions d’accueil

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
Sexual abuse in foster institutions
Abus sexuels dans des institutions d’accueil

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Abus sexuels du clergé

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
Sexual abuse in the family
Abus sexuels dans la famille

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
Abuse in foster institutions
Abus dans des institutions d’accueil

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
Abuse in foster institutions
Abus dans des institutions d’accueil

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
Abuse in foster institutions
Abus dans des institutions d’accueil

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
Abuse in foster institutions
Abus dans des institutions d’accueil

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
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Developmental Editors: Pascal Krauthammer & Vera Pagnoni
Layout: Krauthammer & Partner
Publication date: November 2024
On the web: www.justice-initiative.eu
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