Child sexual abuse among the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution – Worse than in the Catholic Church?
Presented by JZ Help and Say Sorry
22 July 2023 | Say Sorry
[Official Press Release adapted and translated from German]
Original Press Release in German
Announcement of the online press conference on Monday, July 24, 2023, 1-3 p.m
Advocates and survivors of child sexual abuse from Say Sorry and JZ Help announce a special media information session on the issue of child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution.
To register to participate in the press conference and the question and answer session on Monday July 24, 2023, please send an email to: presse[@]jz.help
PRESS CONFERENCE AGENDA
1. Report from a survivor of institutional child sexual abuse
Statement: Sexual abuse against children is widespread within the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. This was statistically highlighted during The Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Child Abuse Royal Commission) and the case study into the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2015.
The spread of child sexual abuse has been attributed by some to the guidelines of the Watchtower Organization, especially with regards to the “two-witness rule”. According to this religious ‘rule’, traditionally a suspicion or allegation of a criminal offence against a child should only be investigated by an internal religious committee if there is at least one second witness in addition to the person concerned, which is hardly ever the case. The Jehovah’s Witnesses organization’s handling of child sexual abuse can also be viewed an expression of a culture of abuse that goes hand in hand with the disregard for fundamental and human rights.
During the press conference this will be highlighted in the account of a female survivor. Born into the community, she experienced childhood sexual abuse — followed by cover-ups. Her story shows how the Jehovah’s Witnesses handling of allegations of child sexual abuse is extremely abusive.
2. Number of victims in comparison with Catholics – assumed number of victims in the German-speaking area
Australian advocates and survivors, Lara Kaput and Steven Unthank from Say Sorry, met with the German Kommission in Berlin on July 20 and shared their experiences with the Australian Child Abuse Royal Commission and their knowledge on the Jehovah’s Witnesses institution.
At the press conference they will present data from the Child Abuse Royal Commission’s own investigations into Jehovah’s Witnesses. This data shows that the presumed number of victims among Jehovah’s Witnesses is relatively many times higher than among the Catholic institutions examined. Based on the number of victims in Australia, an estimate of the number of victims in Germany, Austria and Switzerland is presented.
The data presented will be published on the jz.help website after the press conference.
3. Learning from Australia and Claims
Discussion: Two representatives from Say Sorry explain what European countries can learn from the Australian Child Abuse Royal Commission’s investigation.
Discussion: Demands on the state and society, as well as the Watchtower organization, are formulated.
The visit by Lara Kaput and Steven Unthank from Say Sorry falls within the commemoration week for the victims of the Watchtower organization, which is celebrated every year by person affected by this, this year with a focus on the prevalence of child sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Each year on the 26th of July, Jehovah’s Witness survivors and friends commemorate the Watchtower Victims Memorial Day.
This international day is to mourn and respect victims of the unconscionable and dangerous corporate policies of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, the parent organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The date was chosen to coincide with the 26th of July 1931, when the president of the Watch Tower Society, J. F. Rutherford, invented the name ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’.
Quotes attributed to Steven Unthank
“Being a survivor of institutional child sexual abuse from within the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been a driver in my becoming an activist and campaigner for improving and enhancing child protection laws for religious entities.”
“In Australia we have developed over the past 15 years some of the most effective and progressive laws and policies on protecting children and in managing institutions that work with children. I encourage all states and government departments to look to my corner of the world as a model to emulate in child protection.”
Quote attributed to Lara Kaput
“Because I have German heritage I took note when the German Kommission was announced. I then took my learnings from multiple countries and the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and shared this information. I encourage other survivors of Jehovah’s Witnesses to share their experience and knowledge with the German Kommission.”
Further Press Information
JZ Help is happy to arrange contacts with former members of Jehovah’s Witnesses who can provide information to media professionals on the various problem areas (ostracism, blood bans, suicide or sexualised violence).
Reports from those affected in the Ways of Survival section on jz.help.
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Information on the subject of childhood sexual abuse among Jehovah’s Witnesses (Note: linked articles are in German)
1. Turn of the millennium: Increased reporting on sexualized violence against children
2. The Australian Child Abuse Royal Commission (CARC) inquiry in 2015
3. The situation in the German-speaking area
4. Response of Jehovah’s Witnesses to the Child Abuse Royal Commission
6. Demands on the Watchtower organization as well as society and state
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