She lay in the hospital unconscious and bandaged like a mummy, having barely survived a brutal assault. Her husband of two years had bashed her head, face and body with dozens of blows from a rolling pin before throttling her and then stabbing her 20 times with a kitchen knife, all as their screaming toddler looked on.

A neighbor interrupted the attack, and Shira Isakov was flown by helicopter to the nearest hospital in southern Israel in critical condition, with doctors giving her a 20 per cent chance of living through the night.

She made it through, surviving, as she put it, “against all the odds.”

Just 14 months later, Isakov, 33, a former account director at the Israeli branch of McCann, the international advertising firm, has emerged as a powerful force for legal and social change in the country, using her newfound voice and nationwide prominence to advance Israel’s struggle to combat violence against women.

Activists in Israel have long criticised laws they say favor abusers over victims and point to a history of lax law enforcement and lenient sentencing, with many nonfatal cases ending in plea deals with little or no prison time.

The Israeli government had long “shut its eyes to domestic violence,” said professor Shalva Weil, an expert on violence against women at the Seymour Fox School of Education at Hebrew University and the founder of the Israel Observatory on Femicide, adding that the sentencing of offenders was often “very arbitrary and light.”

But since the attack, Isakov has become a household name in Israel, and a hero to many, not because she was a victim of horrific abuse but because of how her case, and her speaking out, have helped shift Israel’s legal landscape — especially when it comes to the laws protecting abusers’ parental rights and their ability to control decisions about a child’s medical care and schooling from prison.

The assault on Isakov took place on the eve of the Jewish New Year in September 2020. She had been on the phone with her parents when it began, and they heard the blows and her cries in real time.

The viciousness of the attack made headlines across Israel, but what has made Isakov an agent of change was the decision she made to go public with her story as she regained consciousness after six days in intensive care.

Her brother Ofer had photographed her as she lay in her hospital bed, horribly disfigured. When she could speak again, he asked her permission — if she was not too embarrassed, he said — to publish the pictures and show the country what her husband, Aviad Moshe, had done.

“I told him ‘I’m not embarrassed, that’s what happened to me, that’s what I look like,’ ” she recounted last week in an interview at home, in the Tel Aviv apartment she had once shared with Moshe. “The shame is on him.”

She said she did not hesitate to make the decision and was willing to share the details to encourage other women not to ignore the warning signs of a dangerous relationship.

“For a woman who is usually well-groomed and presentable, it’s not pleasant to be seen with your face full of stitches, bruised, with all the left side smashed, head shaved, and teeth knocked out,” she said, “But I refused to hide.”

The news media at first blurred the pictures of her purple, swollen face and scalp crisscrossed with angry red cuts and stab wounds. But after a nurse told her that the courts had acquiesced to the request of her husband to bar publication of his name, to protect his and his family’s reputation, she insisted on being identified in the news media.

Her national prominence grew when Isakov and her neighbor, Adi Guzi, who banged on the door during the assault and then pushed her way into the house at great personal risk, were among 14 Israelis honored for their contribution to society at Israel’s annual Independence Day ceremony in April.

Until last year, Isakov had led a largely ordinary, middle-class Israeli life. Her parents immigrated from the Soviet Union in the 1970s, and she was born and raised in Karmiel, a quiet town in the Galilee hills in Israel’s north, moved to Tel Aviv at 19 and earned a degree in business administration from the Open University.

She married Moshe, an electrical engineer, soon after they met. Their son, Leon, was born in November 2018.

The first act of violence came during an argument the next summer. Isakov complained to police that Moshe had shoved and kicked her. Moshe said that Isakov had attacked him first, and the file was closed for lack of evidence.

“We made up and decided to give our relationship another chance,” she said. But she told Moshe that “A second time, if there was one, would mean divorce.”

Two months later, Moshe was offered a 12-month contract for work in Mitzpe Rimon, a remote town in the Negev desert. The couple decided to move, leaving their small but stylish apartment near the coast in Tel Aviv for the arid south.

There they conceived a second child, but Isakov later miscarried, just two hours after a particularly heated argument. From that point on, she said, the tension in the household escalated and the atmosphere turned ugly.

Ten days later, on the eve of the Jewish holiday, Isakov phoned her parents to say she was coming with Leon to spend the holiday in Karmiel. Moshe blocked her from leaving, and threw her to the floor. She told him the marriage was over and he began beating her.

Moshe, now her ex-husband, is in prison, convicted in August of attempted murder. He is awaiting a hearing on his sentencing and could spend 20 years or more in prison.

Isakov’s personal struggle is far from over, with more surgery ahead.

But since the attack, her accomplishments in the legal arena have been substantial, and her advocacy is credited with having raised awareness among both politicians and the general public of some of the shortcomings in the way Israeli society has dealt with domestic abuse, and its aftermath.

One early legal victory came when the court also convicted Moshe of child abuse, although Leon, while deeply traumatized, was not physically hurt — a judicial precedent for Israel, according to Ben Maoz, Isakov’s lawyer.

The next battle came when Isakov sought therapy for Leon and was told by the hospital that she needed to get the signature of the boy’s father. Registering Leon at a new kindergarten and getting him routine inoculations also required Moshe’s signature. Moshe refused to sign.

Isakov and her lawyer turned to a concerned member of parliament, Oded Forer, who had visited her in the hospital as a member of the parliamentary committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality and is now the minister of agriculture. Within months, the government amended the law so as to automatically cancel the legal guardianship rights of a parent charged with the murder or attempted murder of the other parent or the sexual assault of a child.

Isakov now is seeking a similar amendment of the Names Law that would allow her to unilaterally change Leon’s surname from Moshe to Isakov without having to fight her ex-husband in court. And she is pushing for sanctions on convicted abusers who refuse to attend treatment programs in prison.

Isakov has also become a source of support for other victims of violence and their families. She recently raised $50,000 for gift cards for women in shelters. She is campaigning to raise the state grants paid to relatives who are bringing up the children of murdered women.

This month, she began lecturing around the country on an almost daily basis at the invitation of local councils and high-profile companies and is fully booked through the end of the year.

The determination of Isakov to increase attention on domestic violence and her ability “to speak beautifully and calmly about her trauma and to help others,” Weil said, is helping Israel make noticeable progress.

Isakov’s openness has been “very effective in decreasing the rate of severe domestic violence and in the end, preventing the next femicide,” Weil said, noting that in 2021, the number of women killed has dropped by a quarter compared with the same period last year.

With the scars on her forehead faintly showing under her makeup, Isakov makes it a point to emphasize in her public speeches that she refused to pity herself.

“I didn’t choose what happened to me,” she tells her audiences. “But I have chosen my path forward in life, what I do with myself and how I bring up my child.”

She lay in the hospital unconscious and bandaged like a mummy, having barely survived a brutal assault. Her husband of two years had bashed her head, face and body with dozens of blows from a rolling pin before throttling her and then stabbing her 20 times with a kitchen knife, all as their screaming toddler looked on.

She lay in the hospital unconscious and bandaged like a mummy, having barely survived a brutal assault. Her husband of two years had bashed her head, face and body with dozens of blows from a rolling pin before throttling her and then stabbing her 20 times with a kitchen knife, all as their screaming toddler looked on. A neighbor interrupted the attack, and Shira Isakov was flown by helicopter to the nearest hospital in southern Israel in critical condition, with doctors giving her a 20 per cent chance of living through the night. She made it through, surviving, as she put it, “against all the odds.” Just 14 months later, Isakov, 33, a former account director at the Israeli branch of McCann, the international advertising firm, has emerged as a powerful force for legal and social change in the country, using her newfound voice and nationwide prominence to advance Israel’s struggle to combat violence against women. Activists in Israel have long criticised laws they say favor abusers over victims and point to a history of lax law enforcement and lenient sentencing, with many nonfatal cases ending in plea deals with little or no prison time. The Israeli government had long “shut its eyes to domestic violence,” said professor Shalva Weil, an expert on violence against women at the Seymour Fox School of Education at Hebrew University and the founder of the Israel Observatory on Femicide, adding that the sentencing of offenders was often “very arbitrary and light.” But since the attack, Isakov has become a household name in Israel, and a hero to many, not because she was a victim of horrific abuse but because of how her case, and her speaking out, have helped shift Israel’s legal landscape — especially when it comes to the laws protecting abusers’ parental rights and their ability to control decisions about a child’s medical care and schooling from prison. The assault on Isakov took place on the eve of the Jewish New Year in September 2020. She had been on the phone with her parents when it began, and they heard the blows and her cries in real time. The viciousness of the attack made headlines across Israel, but what has made Isakov an agent of change was the decision she made to go public with her story as she regained consciousness after six days in intensive care. Her brother Ofer had photographed her as she lay in her hospital bed, horribly disfigured. When she could speak again, he asked her permission — if she was not too embarrassed, he said — to publish the pictures and show the country what her husband, Aviad Moshe, had done. “I told him ‘I’m not embarrassed, that’s what happened to me, that’s what I look like,’ ” she recounted last week in an interview at home, in the Tel Aviv apartment she had once shared with Moshe. “The shame is on him.” She said she did not hesitate to make the decision and was willing to share the details to encourage other women not to ignore the warning signs of a dangerous relationship. “For a woman who is usually well-groomed and presentable, it’s not pleasant to be seen with your face full of stitches, bruised, with all the left side smashed, head shaved, and teeth knocked out,” she said, “But I refused to hide.” The news media at first blurred the pictures of her purple, swollen face and scalp crisscrossed with angry red cuts and stab wounds. But after a nurse told her that the courts had acquiesced to the request of her husband to bar publication of his name, to protect his and his family’s reputation, she insisted on being identified in the news media. Her national prominence grew when Isakov and her neighbor, Adi Guzi, who banged on the door during the assault and then pushed her way into the house at great personal risk, were among 14 Israelis honored for their contribution to society at Israel’s annual Independence Day ceremony in April. Until last year, Isakov had led a largely ordinary, middle-class Israeli life. Her parents immigrated from the Soviet Union in the 1970s, and she was born and raised in Karmiel, a quiet town in the Galilee hills in Israel’s north, moved to Tel Aviv at 19 and earned a degree in business administration from the Open University. She married Moshe, an electrical engineer, soon after they met. Their son, Leon, was born in November 2018. The first act of violence came during an argument the next summer. Isakov complained to police that Moshe had shoved and kicked her. Moshe said that Isakov had attacked him first, and the file was closed for lack of evidence. “We made up and decided to give our relationship another chance,” she said. But she told Moshe that “A second time, if there was one, would mean divorce.” Two months later, Moshe was offered a 12-month contract for work in Mitzpe Rimon, a remote town in the Negev desert. The couple decided to move, leaving their small but stylish apartment near the coast in Tel Aviv for the arid south. There they conceived a second child, but Isakov later miscarried, just two hours after a particularly heated argument. From that point on, she said, the tension in the household escalated and the atmosphere turned ugly. Ten days later, on the eve of the Jewish holiday, Isakov phoned her parents to say she was coming with Leon to spend the holiday in Karmiel. Moshe blocked her from leaving, and threw her to the floor. She told him the marriage was over and he began beating her. Moshe, now her ex-husband, is in prison, convicted in August of attempted murder. He is awaiting a hearing on his sentencing and could spend 20 years or more in prison. Isakov’s personal struggle is far from over, with more surgery ahead. But since the attack, her accomplishments in the legal arena have been substantial, and her advocacy is credited with having raised awareness among both politicians and the general public of some of the shortcomings in the way Israeli society has dealt with domestic abuse, and its aftermath. One early legal victory came when the court also convicted Moshe of child abuse, although Leon, while deeply traumatized, was not physically hurt — a judicial precedent for Israel, according to Ben Maoz, Isakov’s lawyer. The next battle came when Isakov sought therapy for Leon and was told by the hospital that she needed to get the signature of the boy’s father. Registering Leon at a new kindergarten and getting him routine inoculations also required Moshe’s signature. Moshe refused to sign. Isakov and her lawyer turned to a concerned member of parliament, Oded Forer, who had visited her in the hospital as a member of the parliamentary committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality and is now the minister of agriculture. Within months, the government amended the law so as to automatically cancel the legal guardianship rights of a parent charged with the murder or attempted murder of the other parent or the sexual assault of a child. Isakov now is seeking a similar amendment of the Names Law that would allow her to unilaterally change Leon’s surname from Moshe to Isakov without having to fight her ex-husband in court. And she is pushing for sanctions on convicted abusers who refuse to attend treatment programs in prison. Isakov has also become a source of support for other victims of violence and their families. She recently raised $50,000 for gift cards for women in shelters. She is campaigning to raise the state grants paid to relatives who are bringing up the children of murdered women. This month, she began lecturing around the country on an almost daily basis at the invitation of local councils and high-profile companies and is fully booked through the end of the year. The determination of Isakov to increase attention on domestic violence and her ability “to speak beautifully and calmly about her trauma and to help others,” Weil said, is helping Israel make noticeable progress. Isakov’s openness has been “very effective in decreasing the rate of severe domestic violence and in the end, preventing the next femicide,” Weil said, noting that in 2021, the number of women killed has dropped by a quarter compared with the same period last year. With the scars on her forehead faintly showing under her makeup, Isakov makes it a point to emphasize in her public speeches that she refused to pity herself. “I didn’t choose what happened to me,” she tells her audiences. “But I have chosen my path forward in life, what I do with myself and how I bring up my child.”

Stabbed 20 times by her husband, she now fights laws favoring abusers

Something felt really weird, when my good friend J, who was 11 years old, told me that he and his grandfather were in love since 2 years, and they both kissed and had sex every night.

Though same age as him, I just knew sex was something that happened between an aspirant father and a mother, also husband and a wife, provided former had a penis and latter a vagina. Turned out, I knew so little - my knowledgeable friend that day, passionately explained to me much more, straight out of his experience. And gave me my first - sex education.

The old man died after a few months. And J was sad. Like really sad. But he was mourning two people - his grandfather and a lover.

Talkative J no longer spoke much, his grades tumbled down. He had changed.&nbsp;

Years went by, life took us to different places, our paths only crossed during holidays. The last time we met, I saw fresh cut marks all over his arms – like he was inflicting upon himself - when I asked him about it, he lightly replied “Kind of a tattoo I like.” Concerned, I suggested him to get a tetanus shot, but wish I knew what depression was.

&nbsp;There were also rumours that he had started taking drugs. Exactly one month before his 17th birthday, 10 years ago, J died of an overdose. Many say it was suicide.

A painful lump suffocates my throat each time I realise that my first lesson on sex, was a very disturbing, first-hand testimony of an innocent juvenile, who was tricked and raped for two years inside his own home.

Perhaps this story would have been something different today, had our super conservative Indian society taught us the difference between a good touch and a bad touch. Meaningful movies, to explain that sexual violence not only happens to females but any human in general, but most importantly – sexual assaults need not necessarily have to look violent.

Much later did I get to know that even if a victim doesn’t contract deadly STDs like HIV or Hepatitis B, sexual assaults of any kind is life-threatening, the mental trauma can trigger a lot of clinical conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD and most survivors suffer from low self-esteem, shock and confusion, their entire lives.

Yet, every single day, tens of thousands of people around the world are sexually assaulted, irrespective of their gender, age, nationality or physical strength – and even though we bluntly categorise each sexual assault as “sexual” – experts claim, the perpetrator’s motive isn’t necessarily always about sex.

Activists and educators amongst us are really worried right now, and we should because the numbers of sexual violence have been climbing drastically during this pandemic, and with financial distress that’s following and will continue, it’s only going to get worse.

Hence now is the best time to discuss our next steps. But first, it’s important to discard outdated stigmas and look into this matter fresh, like a modern generation from the 21st century.

Solution is simple.

Lesser the number of perpetrators less will be the number of assaults. But what turns a normal looking human into a sexual predator?

I summarize three common reasons;

Intoxicants – we don’t need explanations or examples to associate intoxication with sexual or any other type of violence in general. Intoxicants, especially alcohol has the tendency to bring out the worst in humans hence responsible consumption in a secure environment is really important.

Ignorance &amp; Social Conditioning - Something we Indians understand at its core because, while first-world nations talk about gender pay, women employment, consent, etc. – rural India (Sometimes urban) still struggles with 20th-century problems like female education, female infanticide and child marriages to name a few – hence sociologists are correct when they blame various socio-economic factors like patriarchy, illiteracy, low income, Etc. as the significant contributors behind high rates of violence, particularly on females.

Deliberation – This category is what worries me the most - Paedophiles, repeat offenders, educated rapists who seem to be much more than just a weak product of a struggling society. Perfect shapeshifters, we can come in any form – from grandfather to Oscar-winning film producer, husband, boss, cousin, family doctor, teacher – anyone and everyone can be a sex predator in disguise.

Yet, little J makes me ask a challenging question;

Can we commit ourselves to lower global sexual violence rates as compared to numbers from the last decade? The phrase “Global Pandemic” tells me – we actually can!

Since nations everywhere are struggling with high rates of sexual violence&nbsp;- ordeal is the same no matter which country a victim belongs to - sex and sexuality still remains the greatest taboo of our times. It’s only rational to highlight this matter as a global crisis&nbsp;immediately.

I am confident, a new light of awareness will brighten our world, the moment the UN includes Sexual Violence on its official list of global issues alongside climate change, gender equality, migration, etc. and to ensure sexual violence is correctly perceived as a threat against any human, alert nations, and encourage victims of all genders to speak up and file complaints.

When combating sexual violence is prioritised by deeming it gender-neutral, certain governments may finally understand why biased laws like “marry your rapist” are embarrassingly irrational and a total injustice against females.

While officially uniting the world against sexual violence may catalyze change by altering geographical and gender-biased perceptions, it’s still not enough to tackle perpetrators who deliberately commit sex crimes.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
And hence, I plead more victims to speak up and report so that the world can devise ways to completely contain this ancient disease once and for all. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Something felt really weird, when my good friend J, who was 11 years old, told me that he and his grandfather were in love since 2 years, and they both kissed and had sex every night.

Something felt really weird, when my good friend J, who was 11 years old, told me that he and his grandfather were in love since 2 years, and they both kissed and had sex every night. Though same age as him, I just knew sex was something that happened between an aspirant father and a mother, also husband and a wife, provided former had a penis and latter a vagina. Turned out, I knew so little - my knowledgeable friend that day, passionately explained to me much more, straight out of his experience. And gave me my first - sex education. The old man died after a few months. And J was sad. Like really sad. But he was mourning two people - his grandfather and a lover. Talkative J no longer spoke much, his grades tumbled down. He had changed. Years went by, life took us to different places, our paths only crossed during holidays. The last time we met, I saw fresh cut marks all over his arms – like he was inflicting upon himself - when I asked him about it, he lightly replied “Kind of a tattoo I like.” Concerned, I suggested him to get a tetanus shot, but wish I knew what depression was. There were also rumours that he had started taking drugs. Exactly one month before his 17th birthday, 10 years ago, J died of an overdose. Many say it was suicide. A painful lump suffocates my throat each time I realise that my first lesson on sex, was a very disturbing, first-hand testimony of an innocent juvenile, who was tricked and raped for two years inside his own home. Perhaps this story would have been something different today, had our super conservative Indian society taught us the difference between a good touch and a bad touch. Meaningful movies, to explain that sexual violence not only happens to females but any human in general, but most importantly – sexual assaults need not necessarily have to look violent. Much later did I get to know that even if a victim doesn’t contract deadly STDs like HIV or Hepatitis B, sexual assaults of any kind is life-threatening, the mental trauma can trigger a lot of clinical conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD and most survivors suffer from low self-esteem, shock and confusion, their entire lives. Yet, every single day, tens of thousands of people around the world are sexually assaulted, irrespective of their gender, age, nationality or physical strength – and even though we bluntly categorise each sexual assault as “sexual” – experts claim, the perpetrator’s motive isn’t necessarily always about sex. Activists and educators amongst us are really worried right now, and we should because the numbers of sexual violence have been climbing drastically during this pandemic, and with financial distress that’s following and will continue, it’s only going to get worse. Hence now is the best time to discuss our next steps. But first, it’s important to discard outdated stigmas and look into this matter fresh, like a modern generation from the 21st century. Solution is simple. Lesser the number of perpetrators less will be the number of assaults. But what turns a normal looking human into a sexual predator? I summarize three common reasons; Intoxicants – we don’t need explanations or examples to associate intoxication with sexual or any other type of violence in general. Intoxicants, especially alcohol has the tendency to bring out the worst in humans hence responsible consumption in a secure environment is really important. Ignorance & Social Conditioning - Something we Indians understand at its core because, while first-world nations talk about gender pay, women employment, consent, etc. – rural India (Sometimes urban) still struggles with 20th-century problems like female education, female infanticide and child marriages to name a few – hence sociologists are correct when they blame various socio-economic factors like patriarchy, illiteracy, low income, Etc. as the significant contributors behind high rates of violence, particularly on females. Deliberation – This category is what worries me the most - Paedophiles, repeat offenders, educated rapists who seem to be much more than just a weak product of a struggling society. Perfect shapeshifters, we can come in any form – from grandfather to Oscar-winning film producer, husband, boss, cousin, family doctor, teacher – anyone and everyone can be a sex predator in disguise. Yet, little J makes me ask a challenging question; Can we commit ourselves to lower global sexual violence rates as compared to numbers from the last decade? The phrase “Global Pandemic” tells me – we actually can! Since nations everywhere are struggling with high rates of sexual violence - ordeal is the same no matter which country a victim belongs to - sex and sexuality still remains the greatest taboo of our times. It’s only rational to highlight this matter as a global crisis immediately. I am confident, a new light of awareness will brighten our world, the moment the UN includes Sexual Violence on its official list of global issues alongside climate change, gender equality, migration, etc. and to ensure sexual violence is correctly perceived as a threat against any human, alert nations, and encourage victims of all genders to speak up and file complaints. When combating sexual violence is prioritised by deeming it gender-neutral, certain governments may finally understand why biased laws like “marry your rapist” are embarrassingly irrational and a total injustice against females. While officially uniting the world against sexual violence may catalyze change by altering geographical and gender-biased perceptions, it’s still not enough to tackle perpetrators who deliberately commit sex crimes. And hence, I plead more victims to speak up and report so that the world can devise ways to completely contain this ancient disease once and for all. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Combating sexual violence as a global concern

By: Anshu Dubey

“When you feel caught in the web of childhood abuse, find words to describe it. Write them. Say them. Express them. In safe places, with safe people.” 
&nbsp; 
Words of Jeanne McElvaney, but widely believed by several others who faced a similar fate and survived it. Marie Collins, a brave heart who led a traumatic childhood due to sexual abuse at the tender age of 13 years, fought with it all her life and obtained victory after her abuser, a priest, was punished by law.

As the entire world looked at the Vatican City where Pope Francis hosted a 4-day meeting on Clerical sex abuse which concluded on Feb 24, WION spoke exclusively with the iron-willed woman Marie Collins on the highly complicated matter. 
&nbsp; 
Read on for the excerpts from Collins interview who also has been a former member of Francis' papal commission on clergy sexual abuse and a survivor herself.

How do you estimate the current Global abuse summit as an initiative, as a forum for redressal? Does it infuse hope and Is the summit in the right direction?

The presentations at the summit have been dealing clearly with the issue and indicate that strong measures need to be taken by the church in regard to safeguarding, transparency and accountability. However, we need to see these measures are actually put in place before we can say the summit is a success. 
&nbsp; 
How complex, longstanding and big is the issue of church sexual abuse?

The first mention of child abuse by clergy and religious in the church can be found in centuries-old documents. &nbsp;In modern times it began to become a public issue in the mid-1980s in Australia, Ireland and the USA. It grew in public awareness in the 1990’s here in Ireland it became a very high profile issue with the first call for a state enquiry coming in 2001.

Similarly, it became a public issue in Australia in the 1990s. &nbsp;In 2002 the Spotlight (film) exposure of the huge cover-up of abuse in Boston in the USA really brought it to the fore. &nbsp;

All the enquiries and subsequent reports that have occurred so far have concluded that child abuse has been prevalent in all areas of the Catholic Church but has been covered up and perpetrator protected in order to “protect the Church from scandal”. &nbsp;

The most recent report with statistics came from the German bishops in September 2018 it was found cases of 3,677 children were abused by about 1,670 clerics over nearly 70 years up to 2014. 
&nbsp; 
You were a victim of sexual abuse at a very young age. How difficult was it to deal with it as a child and alongside informing about it to your family?

I was sexually abused by a Catholic priest while a patient in a children's’ hospital. &nbsp;It completely changed my life. I had been a confident child but lost all confidence in myself, felt worthless and turned in on myself pushing everyone away. 
&nbsp; 
You went into paralysis and had a tough time in your hospital days. How normal (if at all) did your life become post returning from the hospital and surviving the trauma you went through?

I suffered psychological problems from the time of my abuse for many, many years – severe anxiety, panic attacks, deep depressions and an inability to trust which destroyed relationships. &nbsp;I did not tell anyone for 25 years. &nbsp; &nbsp;

My life did not return to what would be seen as normal until after my abuser was jailed and I had a couple of years of therapy. &nbsp;By then I was 50 years of age but life then became good and I could enjoy everyday thing in the same way as others. 
&nbsp; 
Did you get any support from the papal committee after you came out publicly about your ordeal?

The Commission thanked me publicly for the work I had done while a member. &nbsp;I received supportive messages from former colleagues on the Commission. 
&nbsp; 
Dealing with such crime in places of religion and faith has always been a challenge for the lawkeepers, Do you think, it needs a more specialised or in fact a more stringent provision of punishment?

Those who commit crimes against children should be treated in the same way by the law whether they are clerics or lay people. &nbsp;Being a priest is not an excuse it is worse even as they are in a position of trust. &nbsp;The sexual abuse of a child is a dreadful crime as it can destroy many years of their adult life as it did mine. 
&nbsp; 
Why didn’t you ever try to take the help of the legal system when you eventually found the courage to speak about your situation?

I did cooperate with the police when I reported my abuse. &nbsp;In 1995 I reported it to the church and to the hospital where it happened. &nbsp;The church did nothing but the hospital reported it to the police and I made statements to them and helped in every way I could in their investigations. &nbsp;

My abuser Fr. Paul McGennis was found guilty of my abuse and jailed in 1997.

He was jailed again some years later for the abuse of other girls subsequent to mine. 
&nbsp; 
What acted as a catalyst to mark your exit from the Papal Committee?

The Vatican refused to implement the Commission recommendations for better safeguarding policy and for accountability of bishops but the final straw for me was when they refused a recommendation from the Commission that they always acknowledge correspondence from survivors. &nbsp;

They would not do this. &nbsp;I could not stay working with the church while they were telling the world they cared for the healing of survivors but were refusing to reply to letters from those survivors, causing them to hurt and feelings of rejection. 
&nbsp; 
What kind of response did you get when you started your organisation Marie Collins Foundation?

The Marie Collins Foundation is completely separate from my work on the issue of children abused within the Catholic Church. &nbsp;It is an organisation working to support victims of grooming, abuse or exploitation through the internet or mobile technology. &nbsp;It works also to improve the safety of children on the internet. &nbsp;

My reason for working in this area is the fact abusive images were taken of me during my abuse and I know what a sickening extra burden this puts on a victim. 
&nbsp; 
Considering that the issue of sexual abuse is predominant across the world, what do you think is the possible solution to fight such a pervert mentality?

Abuse of children is a blight on society in all areas of the world. &nbsp;Just dealing with it through the criminal law is not enough there must be in depth work done on prevention and reaching and identifying potential perpetrators before they have abused. 
&nbsp; 
You have travelled a very long way from being a minor sexual abuse survivor to a face of rebellion against the perverted mindset masked by an allegedly sacred veil and now we see a solution- provider. What would be your message for women of all ages across the globe?

My one message to any woman or man who has been exploited sexually in any way is not to stay silent, speak out, seek help and support others. &nbsp;Abuse thrives on secrecy. &nbsp;Abusers depend on it to facilitate further abuse. &nbsp;Those victims who keep their experience secret can suffer detrimental effects on their mental health and accessing therapy can make a great difference in their lives.

By: Anshu Dubey “When you feel caught in the web of childhood abuse, find words to describe it. Write them. Say them. Express them. In safe places, with safe people.

By: Anshu Dubey “When you feel caught in the web of childhood abuse, find words to describe it. Write them. Say them. Express them. In safe places, with safe people.” Words of Jeanne McElvaney, but widely believed by several others who faced a similar fate and survived it. Marie Collins, a brave heart who led a traumatic childhood due to sexual abuse at the tender age of 13 years, fought with it all her life and obtained victory after her abuser, a priest, was punished by law. As the entire world looked at the Vatican City where Pope Francis hosted a 4-day meeting on Clerical sex abuse which concluded on Feb 24, WION spoke exclusively with the iron-willed woman Marie Collins on the highly complicated matter. Read on for the excerpts from Collins interview who also has been a former member of Francis' papal commission on clergy sexual abuse and a survivor herself. How do you estimate the current Global abuse summit as an initiative, as a forum for redressal? Does it infuse hope and Is the summit in the right direction? The presentations at the summit have been dealing clearly with the issue and indicate that strong measures need to be taken by the church in regard to safeguarding, transparency and accountability. However, we need to see these measures are actually put in place before we can say the summit is a success. How complex, longstanding and big is the issue of church sexual abuse? The first mention of child abuse by clergy and religious in the church can be found in centuries-old documents. In modern times it began to become a public issue in the mid-1980s in Australia, Ireland and the USA. It grew in public awareness in the 1990’s here in Ireland it became a very high profile issue with the first call for a state enquiry coming in 2001. Similarly, it became a public issue in Australia in the 1990s. In 2002 the Spotlight (film) exposure of the huge cover-up of abuse in Boston in the USA really brought it to the fore. All the enquiries and subsequent reports that have occurred so far have concluded that child abuse has been prevalent in all areas of the Catholic Church but has been covered up and perpetrator protected in order to “protect the Church from scandal”. The most recent report with statistics came from the German bishops in September 2018 it was found cases of 3,677 children were abused by about 1,670 clerics over nearly 70 years up to 2014. You were a victim of sexual abuse at a very young age. How difficult was it to deal with it as a child and alongside informing about it to your family? I was sexually abused by a Catholic priest while a patient in a children's’ hospital. It completely changed my life. I had been a confident child but lost all confidence in myself, felt worthless and turned in on myself pushing everyone away. You went into paralysis and had a tough time in your hospital days. How normal (if at all) did your life become post returning from the hospital and surviving the trauma you went through? I suffered psychological problems from the time of my abuse for many, many years – severe anxiety, panic attacks, deep depressions and an inability to trust which destroyed relationships. I did not tell anyone for 25 years. My life did not return to what would be seen as normal until after my abuser was jailed and I had a couple of years of therapy. By then I was 50 years of age but life then became good and I could enjoy everyday thing in the same way as others. Did you get any support from the papal committee after you came out publicly about your ordeal? The Commission thanked me publicly for the work I had done while a member. I received supportive messages from former colleagues on the Commission. Dealing with such crime in places of religion and faith has always been a challenge for the lawkeepers, Do you think, it needs a more specialised or in fact a more stringent provision of punishment? Those who commit crimes against children should be treated in the same way by the law whether they are clerics or lay people. Being a priest is not an excuse it is worse even as they are in a position of trust. The sexual abuse of a child is a dreadful crime as it can destroy many years of their adult life as it did mine. Why didn’t you ever try to take the help of the legal system when you eventually found the courage to speak about your situation? I did cooperate with the police when I reported my abuse. In 1995 I reported it to the church and to the hospital where it happened. The church did nothing but the hospital reported it to the police and I made statements to them and helped in every way I could in their investigations. My abuser Fr. Paul McGennis was found guilty of my abuse and jailed in 1997. He was jailed again some years later for the abuse of other girls subsequent to mine. What acted as a catalyst to mark your exit from the Papal Committee? The Vatican refused to implement the Commission recommendations for better safeguarding policy and for accountability of bishops but the final straw for me was when they refused a recommendation from the Commission that they always acknowledge correspondence from survivors. They would not do this. I could not stay working with the church while they were telling the world they cared for the healing of survivors but were refusing to reply to letters from those survivors, causing them to hurt and feelings of rejection. What kind of response did you get when you started your organisation Marie Collins Foundation? The Marie Collins Foundation is completely separate from my work on the issue of children abused within the Catholic Church. It is an organisation working to support victims of grooming, abuse or exploitation through the internet or mobile technology. It works also to improve the safety of children on the internet. My reason for working in this area is the fact abusive images were taken of me during my abuse and I know what a sickening extra burden this puts on a victim. Considering that the issue of sexual abuse is predominant across the world, what do you think is the possible solution to fight such a pervert mentality? Abuse of children is a blight on society in all areas of the world. Just dealing with it through the criminal law is not enough there must be in depth work done on prevention and reaching and identifying potential perpetrators before they have abused. You have travelled a very long way from being a minor sexual abuse survivor to a face of rebellion against the perverted mindset masked by an allegedly sacred veil and now we see a solution- provider. What would be your message for women of all ages across the globe? My one message to any woman or man who has been exploited sexually in any way is not to stay silent, speak out, seek help and support others. Abuse thrives on secrecy. Abusers depend on it to facilitate further abuse. Those victims who keep their experience secret can suffer detrimental effects on their mental health and accessing therapy can make a great difference in their lives.

'Being a priest is not an excuse', Irish abuse survivor rests hope in the Vatican Summit

An African nun told Catholic bishops on Saturday to acknowledge the church's hypocrisy in its handling of the sexual abuse crisis, and a cardinal admitted case files had been destroyed.

Sister Veronica Openibo, a Nigerian who has worked in Africa, Europe and the United States, spoke with a soft voice but had a strong message for the prelates sitting before her, telling them, "This storm will not pass".

She delivered her talk at the start of the penultimate day of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/at-popes-abuse-summit-church-seeks-to-fix-systematic-failures-199003">Vatican summit of some 200 senior Church officials convened by Pope Francis</a> to confront what he has called the scourge of sexual abuse by the clergy.

"We proclaim the Ten Commandments and parade ourselves as being the custodians of moral standards and values and good behaviour in society. Hypocrites at times? Yes! Why did we keep silent for so long?" she said.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-guidelines-for-concrete-change-over-sex-abuse-198812"> Pope Francis gives guidelines for concrete change over sex abuse</a>

She told the pope, sitting near her on the dais, that she admired him because he was "humble enough to change your mind," apologise and take action after he initially defended a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse. The bishop later resigned.

"How could the clerical Church have kept silent, covering these atrocities? The silence, the carrying of the secrets in the hearts of the perpetrators, the length of the abuses and the constant transfers of perpetrators are unimaginable," she said.

She spoke of her shock when she watched the 2015 Oscar-winning film Spotlight, which uncovered how Church leaders in Boston moved predator priests from parish to parish instead of defrocking them or turning them over to civil authorities.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/victims-testify-at-child-sex-abuse-conference-pope-promises-to-fight-enemy-within-198921">Victims testify at child sex abuse conference, Pope promises to fight ‘enemy within’</a>

"At the present time, we are in a state of crisis and shame. We have seriously clouded the grace of the Christ-mission," Openibo said.

"We must acknowledge that our mediocrity, hypocrisy and complacency have brought us to this disgraceful and scandalous place we find ourselves as a Church. We pause to pray, Lord have mercy on us!" she said.

Destroyed files

She said Church leaders must shed their habit of hiding events for fear of making a mistake.

"Too often we want to keep silent until the storm has passed. This storm will not pass by. Our credibility is at stake," she said, adding that the Church's male hierarchy should allow more women to be involved in fight against abuse.

German Cardinal Reinhard Marx called for more "traceability and transparency" in dealing with the issue, such as limiting pontifical secrecy in cases of abuse handled by the Vatican, releasing more statistics and publishing judicial procedures.

"Files that could have documented the terrible deeds and named those responsible were destroyed, or not even created. Instead of the perpetrators, the victims were regulated and silence imposed on them," Marx, a leading progressive, said.

"The rights of victims were effectively trampled underfoot, and left to the whims of individuals," he said.

The abuse crisis has made 2018 one of the toughest years for the pope since his election in 2013.

Chile's 34 bishops offered to resign over the scandal, the pope's trip to Ireland exposed decades of abuse in the once staunchly Catholic nation and a grand jury in Pennsylvania revealed priests sexually abused about 1,000 people over seven decades in that U.S. state alone.

Victims, some of whom told painful stories of abuse and cover-up when the conference began on Thursday, rallied in a Rome square before a march to the Vatican to demand change and justice.

The conference ends on Sunday when the pope will make a final speech. The Vatican says it will formulate follow-up measures to make sure all bishop return home knowing how to put anti-abuse procedures into place.

An African nun told Catholic bishops on Saturday to acknowledge the church's hypocrisy in its handling of the sexual abuse crisis, and a cardinal admitted case files had been destroyed.

An African nun told Catholic bishops on Saturday to acknowledge the church's hypocrisy in its handling of the sexual abuse crisis, and a cardinal admitted case files had been destroyed. Sister Veronica Openibo, a Nigerian who has worked in Africa, Europe and the United States, spoke with a soft voice but had a strong message for the prelates sitting before her, telling them, "This storm will not pass". She delivered her talk at the start of the penultimate day of a Vatican summit of some 200 senior Church officials convened by Pope Francis to confront what he has called the scourge of sexual abuse by the clergy. "We proclaim the Ten Commandments and parade ourselves as being the custodians of moral standards and values and good behaviour in society. Hypocrites at times? Yes! Why did we keep silent for so long?" she said. Also read: Pope Francis gives guidelines for concrete change over sex abuse She told the pope, sitting near her on the dais, that she admired him because he was "humble enough to change your mind," apologise and take action after he initially defended a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse. The bishop later resigned. "How could the clerical Church have kept silent, covering these atrocities? The silence, the carrying of the secrets in the hearts of the perpetrators, the length of the abuses and the constant transfers of perpetrators are unimaginable," she said. She spoke of her shock when she watched the 2015 Oscar-winning film Spotlight, which uncovered how Church leaders in Boston moved predator priests from parish to parish instead of defrocking them or turning them over to civil authorities. Also read: Victims testify at child sex abuse conference, Pope promises to fight ‘enemy within’ "At the present time, we are in a state of crisis and shame. We have seriously clouded the grace of the Christ-mission," Openibo said. "We must acknowledge that our mediocrity, hypocrisy and complacency have brought us to this disgraceful and scandalous place we find ourselves as a Church. We pause to pray, Lord have mercy on us!" she said. Destroyed files She said Church leaders must shed their habit of hiding events for fear of making a mistake. "Too often we want to keep silent until the storm has passed. This storm will not pass by. Our credibility is at stake," she said, adding that the Church's male hierarchy should allow more women to be involved in fight against abuse. German Cardinal Reinhard Marx called for more "traceability and transparency" in dealing with the issue, such as limiting pontifical secrecy in cases of abuse handled by the Vatican, releasing more statistics and publishing judicial procedures. "Files that could have documented the terrible deeds and named those responsible were destroyed, or not even created. Instead of the perpetrators, the victims were regulated and silence imposed on them," Marx, a leading progressive, said. "The rights of victims were effectively trampled underfoot, and left to the whims of individuals," he said. The abuse crisis has made 2018 one of the toughest years for the pope since his election in 2013. Chile's 34 bishops offered to resign over the scandal, the pope's trip to Ireland exposed decades of abuse in the once staunchly Catholic nation and a grand jury in Pennsylvania revealed priests sexually abused about 1,000 people over seven decades in that U.S. state alone. Victims, some of whom told painful stories of abuse and cover-up when the conference began on Thursday, rallied in a Rome square before a march to the Vatican to demand change and justice. The conference ends on Sunday when the pope will make a final speech. The Vatican says it will formulate follow-up measures to make sure all bishop return home knowing how to put anti-abuse procedures into place.

Acknowledge church's hypocrisy: African nun scolds Catholic bishops on sexual abuse crisis

The Roman Catholic Church must repair the "systematic failures" that enabled sexual abuse to take root around the world, and bishops should start policing each other's behaviour, leading cardinals said on Friday.

Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago and Oswald Gracias of Mumbai spoke on the second day of a conference of some 200 senior Church officials convened by Pope Francis to confront what he has called the scourge of sexual abuse by the clergy.

"This past year has taught us that the systematic failures in holding clerics of all rank responsible are due in large measure to flaws in the way we interact and communicate with each other," Cupich said.

Various aspects of the sexual abuse crisis made 2018 the worst year for the pope since his election in 2013.

In Chile, all of the country's 34 bishops offered their resignations over a nationwide scandal; Francis's trip to Ireland shone a new light on decades of abuse in the once staunchly Catholic nation; and a damning report by a grand jury in Pennsylvania revealed that priests had sexually abused about 1,000 people over seven decades in that US state alone.

Last week, Theodore McCarrick, once a powerful cardinal in the US Church, was dismissed from the priesthood after the Vatican found him guilty of sexual abuse of minors and adults over decades.

The Church had "to confront the past grave and callous errors of some bishops and religious superiors in addressing cases of clergy sexual abuse, and the discernment to understand how to establish just accountability for these massive failures," Cupich said.

Problematic behaviour

At the start of the conference on Thursday, five victims told painful stories of abuse and cover-up and the pope said they could expect concrete measures to come out of the meeting.

Victims groups have complained that while some priests who sexually abused children were eventually disciplined by the Church and sentenced by civil authorities, the bishops who either enabled the abuse or it covered up have not been punished.

In what appeared to be a reference to the McCarrick case, Cardinal Gracias said bishops should "fraternally correct" each other.

"Do we really engage in an open conversation and point out honestly to our brother bishops or priests when we notice problematic behaviour in them?" he said.

Before proof of McCarrick's child sex abuse decades ago was discovered last year, his sexual misconduct with adult men studying for the priesthood and his abuse of power over them was an open secret in the US Church.

Critics have asked how McCarrick could have risen to become archbishop of Washington, DC from 2001-2006 while many allegedly knew of his misconduct with adults.

Pope Francis ordered a "thorough study" last year of all documents concerning McCarrick. The four US dioceses where he served - New York, Metuchen, Newark, and Washington - have launched independent investigations.

The conference ends on Sunday when the pope will make a final speech. The Vatican says it will then formulate follow-up measures to make sure all bishop return home knowing how to put anti-abuse procedures into place.

The Roman Catholic Church must repair the "systematic failures" that enabled sexual abuse to take root around the world, and bishops should start policing each other's behaviour, leading cardinals said on Friday.

The Roman Catholic Church must repair the "systematic failures" that enabled sexual abuse to take root around the world, and bishops should start policing each other's behaviour, leading cardinals said on Friday. Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago and Oswald Gracias of Mumbai spoke on the second day of a conference of some 200 senior Church officials convened by Pope Francis to confront what he has called the scourge of sexual abuse by the clergy. "This past year has taught us that the systematic failures in holding clerics of all rank responsible are due in large measure to flaws in the way we interact and communicate with each other," Cupich said. Various aspects of the sexual abuse crisis made 2018 the worst year for the pope since his election in 2013. In Chile, all of the country's 34 bishops offered their resignations over a nationwide scandal; Francis's trip to Ireland shone a new light on decades of abuse in the once staunchly Catholic nation; and a damning report by a grand jury in Pennsylvania revealed that priests had sexually abused about 1,000 people over seven decades in that US state alone. Last week, Theodore McCarrick, once a powerful cardinal in the US Church, was dismissed from the priesthood after the Vatican found him guilty of sexual abuse of minors and adults over decades. The Church had "to confront the past grave and callous errors of some bishops and religious superiors in addressing cases of clergy sexual abuse, and the discernment to understand how to establish just accountability for these massive failures," Cupich said. Problematic behaviour At the start of the conference on Thursday, five victims told painful stories of abuse and cover-up and the pope said they could expect concrete measures to come out of the meeting. Victims groups have complained that while some priests who sexually abused children were eventually disciplined by the Church and sentenced by civil authorities, the bishops who either enabled the abuse or it covered up have not been punished. In what appeared to be a reference to the McCarrick case, Cardinal Gracias said bishops should "fraternally correct" each other. "Do we really engage in an open conversation and point out honestly to our brother bishops or priests when we notice problematic behaviour in them?" he said. Before proof of McCarrick's child sex abuse decades ago was discovered last year, his sexual misconduct with adult men studying for the priesthood and his abuse of power over them was an open secret in the US Church. Critics have asked how McCarrick could have risen to become archbishop of Washington, DC from 2001-2006 while many allegedly knew of his misconduct with adults. Pope Francis ordered a "thorough study" last year of all documents concerning McCarrick. The four US dioceses where he served - New York, Metuchen, Newark, and Washington - have launched independent investigations. The conference ends on Sunday when the pope will make a final speech. The Vatican says it will then formulate follow-up measures to make sure all bishop return home knowing how to put anti-abuse procedures into place.

At Pope's abuse summit, Church seeks to fix 'systematic failures'