Nearly 200 experts engaged in safeguarding from 50 countries gathered this week in Rome to create solutions for the prevention and protection from all forms of abuse.
FR. HANS ZOLLNER Director, Institute of Anthropology (IADC) What is happening here is that people connect to eachother, that they get out of the loneliness that they very often feel because of many experiences being sidelined, being not listened to by bishops, by provincials, by authorities of universities and so forth when they want to bring up this issue and the necessity to engage in safeguarding. We don't do only what we do all year long, but also learn how we can prove empirically that it is not only valid but it is effective.
The International Safeguarding Conference, hosted at the Pontifical Gregorian University, is the first post-pandemic gathering of its kind and placed a special focus on organizational accountability at all levels.
MARK JOSEPH WILLIAMS Author, Activist & Clergy Abuse Survivor I think improvements really need to be made in the hierarchy and that bishops particularly and prelates around the world, not to be fearful of their own accountability.
The conference included research discussions, workshops and presentations on topics ranging from child protection, victim support, and more. But what stood out the most was the progress being made in this field and hope for the future.
FR. DAVID PADRÓN Pontifical Gregorian University I believe there is a lot of hope. By coming together from so many nationalities, from so many stages of life and, engaging in different tasks, working to protect minors and the most vulnerable people in the Church, we are also creating networks to help us work together.
MARK JOSEPH WILLIAMS Author, Activist & Clergy Abuse Survivor We're getting there, we're getting there, and I think we've made great strides.
The delegates, who hailed from six continents, now return home encouraged and empowered to work for more effective safeguarding of children and all vulnerable people.
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