Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse, Fiona Ryan, today spoke at the unveiling of a memorial plaque at Stormont, dedicated to victims and survivors of historical institutional child abuse.
In her remarks, the Commissioner acknowledged the courage and determination of victims and survivors in ensuring their experiences of child abuse were finally recognised by the institutions responsible and the State.
“I want to start with a simple truth and an offer of profound thanks. The truth is that we are here today because of the courage and conviction of survivors and their belief that the truth needed to be told. We owe all of them, all of you, our thanks.
If we are pledging to remember then let us not forget survivors had to fight for the truth to be heard, for the silenced voices of the children they once were to be finally listened to.
In remembering and honouring your courage and resilience, we do not forget how hard life has been and still is for many survivors as they live with the legacy of this abuse…
To echo the words of the memorial, let it stand as a reminder to all of us and to systems of what happens when we fail children. And when we say to children – we will not fail you again – let us make this a lasting pledge to protect every child.”
The Commissioner also paid tribute to victims and survivors who have passed away - many never getting the chance to speak about what was done to them or to see the abuse they experienced as children finally be acknowledged by institutions and the State.
She spoke about those victims and survivors who have left Northern Ireland to make lives elsewhere, many of whom have told the Commissioner that they felt forgotten by the place they came from.
The Commissioner highlighted that, just as the memorial stands as a reminder of the harm experienced and the responsibility owed to victims and survivors, it also reinforces the importance of ensuring that survivors are aware and can access the supports and services they need.
She noted that victims and survivors have futures as well as pasts, and that they deserve supports and services that make a real difference to their lives and help to ensure they can live their lives with dignity.
Commissioner Fiona Ryan said:
“Today, in honouring the courage and resilience of victims and survivors, we also acknowledge the decades they spent fighting to have the truth heard. Our pledge must be that we will not fail children again.
We must also pledge to ensure that survivors are provided with the ongoing supports and services that make a positive difference to their lives and that this support is provided to them for as long as they need it.
My office this week launched a new awareness initiative to ensure victims and survivors - wherever they live - are informed of their entitlements to supports and services and know how to access them.
I will also shortly publish the findings of our consultation on supports and services to victims and survivors. These findings will guide my engagement with government departments, service providers and stakeholders, with the clear intention of improving the quality, accessibility and coordination of supports and services to victims and survivors.”