Anonymity is 'vital for victims'

VICTIM advocates and the Catholic Church agree the abuse royal commission needs to ensure victims can give evidence anonymously.

VICTIM advocates and the Catholic Church agree the sex abuse royal commission needs to ensure victims are able to give evidence anonymously.

Lawyer Angela Sdrinis, who acts for more than 1000 victims who allege sexual and other abuse in Victorian orphanages and foster homes, said the royal commission should focus on systemic issues, among the most important of which was "who knew what and when".

But victims needed to be able to present their evidence anonymously if they chose to do so, and the commission should also be cautious about naming and shaming alleged predators.

Ms Sdrinis presented evidence to the Victorian parliament's abuse inquiry in three parts, for two parts of which she requested anonymity.

She said that while some victims wanted and needed to speak out, "for a lot of people that's a really hard thing".

"In terms of the royal commission's work, the important thing is that they know what the allegations are and that they are in a position to investigate and pursue the systemic abuse issues," she said.

But Ms Sdrinis said lack of transparency had made it difficult for victims to get justice.

"So I think it's important that the evidence of the perpetrators is out there in the public arena, but not necessarily at the expense of victims having to be identified."

She was also "uncomfortable" about naming and shaming alleged predators.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Beth Doherty, said respect for victim anonymity was integral to its internal processes, Towards Healing and the Melbourne Response.

Irish Catholic abuse victim and activist Marie Collins has warned there needs to be provision for anonymity in the royal commission. She said last week the Irish commission had been inundated by thousands of "silent sufferers" who had never told their story, "but who feel safe to do so when given the opportunity to speak with anonymity to a statutory commission".

"The same will happen in Australia," she said.

Ireland's Murphy report relied on a sample of witness statements, while ensuring evidence was heard against each alleged perpetrator.

"In hindsight, it was a scheme that worked effectively, but at the time there was a huge objection to the fact that not every victim's voice would be heard," Ms Collins said.

Northern Ireland's ongoing historical institutional abuse inquiry will have an "acknowledgement forum" of five members to hear witnesses confidentially recount their experiences.