Australia’s Christian Churches came together last weekend for a ground breaking consultation designed to share knowledge, experience and expertise in addressing matters of sexual abuse and misconduct by Church personnel.

Entitled “Safe as Churches?”, the consultation was an ecumenical gathering of up to 60 representatives, many of whom are involved in the formation and implementation of church policies on sexual abuse and misconduct.

It was convened by the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) and was held at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Canberra.

It included representatives from the Anglican, Catholic, Uniting, Lutheran, Salvation Army, Greek Orthodox, Quaker, Churches of Christ, Coptic Orthodox, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist and Presbyterian churches.

NCCA general secretary, Rev John Henderson, said many of those who took part were people who worked with victims, some professionally and some as volunteers within their church policies.

“Churches recognise the seriousness of issues of sexual abuse and misconduct,” Rev Henderson said.

“They want to do better and live by the standards Christ himself set for his church. This consultation is a step in developing best practice among the churches.

“They are now ready to come together around the table and tell their stories, resource one another, listen more intently to victims and to develop a positive culture in which abuse and misconduct will not take place.”

Rev Henderson said the consultation encouraged and resourced Australian churches to deal with complaints in the best possible way, working to protect the innocent, and changing any elements of church culture that encouraged abuse or protected abusers.

“It is significant that the churches are coming together to talk about this matter. We need to develop a positive culture that reduces the likelihood of abuse and misconduct taking place. We can help one another develop best practice, and learn from mistakes before, not after, they are repeated,” he said.

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Further Information:
John Henderson
General Secretary, National Council of Churches in Australia
(02) 9299-2215

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 Massive loss of lives in the Bam earthquake has left deep scars on the local community.  The aftermath of the disaster has seen the local population trying to cope with loss of loved ones, homes and personal belongings.  Contrary to material possessions which can be replaced over time, the loss of family members has been a traumatic experience which requires urgent attention.

Recognising the magnitude of the humanitarian needs of the population in and around Bam, and the present shortfalls in provision of aid by the international community, ACT members have joined in their efforts to accommodate the homeless and provide psycho-social assistance to the most needy.  The program is based on the philosophy that the local non-government organisations (NGOs) playing the pivotal role in the rehabilitation require all the support by their international counterparts.

It is planned prefabricated shelter, semi-permanent, earthquake resistant housing, common spaces for women and young people, financial assistance for Iranian NGOs working with women and young people, vocational training for young and disabled people, and disaster preparedness and search and rescue training will benefit the population.

A budget of A$ 872 112 has been identified for this work.

The Ministry of Health has requested that mobile field hospitals remain until health infra-structure can be rebuilt.  90 of the 250 health workers were killed in the quake.  Almost all health facilities were destroyed.

Water is polluted and at very low pressure – there is no pipe sewage system and 200 emergency washing places with plastic sheeting and roof have been set up.

 Despite devastation, hope still lives on street of dreams

From Hege Opseth in Iran
(ACT International/Norwegian Church Aid) 

On a street where a row of houses once stood, tents are now lined up. The street used to house families and their dreams, many of which were destroyed by the earthquake on December 26. Yet the city lives on.

Before the earthquake levelled much of his city, Akhbar's guesthouse stood in the centre of the street and was a meeting place for neighbours. Now, all that remains of the life Akhbar and his family led is one remaining wall of their home and a mess of twisted beds.

"Running a guesthouse was my dream, to welcome guests from all over the world and show them our rich cultural heritage and our country."
 
Following the quake, Akhbar managed to dig out and save the lives of seven people. His son, Mohammed, was buried in the ruins of their house for hours. He survived, but his best friend, who was sleeping next to him, died.

"I was sleeping when the earthquake struck," Mohammed recalls. "And I still feel like I am sleeping, just having a nightmare that will be over soon. It is too unreal. Too many are dead - family members, my girlfriend and friends." He can't even find his girlfriend's grave.

Mohammed had a promising future ahead of him. He loved working at his father's guesthouse, which he was to take over one day. He describes it as "my whole life, my love and my future”.

"Now, I am not able to think of the future."

 Near their ruined guesthouse, Akhbar and Mohammed have acquired tents in which to live. There is no shower, no toilet and nothing to keep them warm during the cold nights. Nevertheless, they are alive, and so are their dreams of running a guest house.

"Now I have put up a tent across the street," Akhbar said, "There I still wish guests welcome."

Outside is a makeshift memorial of flowers and
pictures of neighbours who died in the quake. Many people stop, looking fearfully for faces they know. On what is left of the entrance, residents have painted a sign that says “Bam lives”.

A hundred metres away, another family is searching the ruins of their home. Several families sit in their tents along the street. Some families lost five children. Others lost three.

Masomee, a young girl, lost her parents. On the morning of the quake, she was sleeping in the room next to the kitchen with the rest of her family. "I got buried up to my waist. It took three and a half hours before they managed to get me out. Next to me were my dead parents," Masomee said.

 Only rubble remains of Masool's home. His parents and four other family members were killed. The refrigerator still contains eggs, untouched by the earthquake. They are a reminder of the randomness of the destruction the quake caused.

Miriam, was saved by her brother-in-law. "I came here as soon as I could after the earthquake. We were digging in the ruins for hours. We managed to save Miriam," he said.

Miriam wears a mask to keep out the dust. She is shaking, and the tears stream down her cheeks when she speaks of what happened. She is sitting in the ruins, feeding baby Hedyeh, which means gift. Her other daughter, Hadis, plays with an old camera she found in the ruins, blissfully ignorant of what has taken place.

"In one way I was lucky," Miriam said. "I have lost many, but all my children survived."

The family has attended funeral after funeral during the past week. Together with more than 30,000 others, relatives who were killed are buried in a mass grave outside the city centre.