From Angus Stewarts Opening Statement Case Study 54
This week Watchtower Australia furnished to the Royal Commission a
document titled Child Safeguarding Policy of Jehovah’s Witnesses in
Australia. It is understood to be a recently adopted policy for distribution
to congregations in Australia. There will be evidence about this document.
This document was discussed, at length and on two separate occassions, during the Case Study 54 Hearing at the Royal Commission 10 March, 2017. I thought it might be worthwhile discussing it as it is probably one of the very few changes the Org. has made due to the work of the RC.
We learnt that this was presented to the Commission as a final Draft with just minor amendments being required. The Branch Office started work on this policy some time after October 2016 according to O'Brien but immediately after the first hearing in 2015 according to Sprinks (who also advised that there had been reps from World HQ at the first hearing advising they were involved also). It was provided to the Royal Commission early this week by Lawyers.
Spinks claims that they had to work quickly on the Policy in order to present it to the current RC hearing but he could not advised when the Policy was in a form that only minor adjustments were required. Spinks refers to it as a 'living document' (pretty much like every word they've written).
It is based on the UK Policy document but the Australian Branch wanted specific inclusions which were granted.
This Policy is to be made available to every member of the congregations in Australia.
Angus Stewart made several references to this Policy during the hearing and was not satisfied with it, pointing out a number of problems that had not been properly addressed.
Also of concern to him was the following and the includes the responses by O'Brien and Spinks.
- How soon would it be given to members. He was advised that it was expected to be finalized in the next week or two and distributed in the next week or so having been approved by the Aust Branch Office.
- In what form would it be made available to members of the congregations.. He was given no specifics about this other than it would be made available online, through the mailing system to each congregation or it would be in printed form. The Branch Office gets to make this decision and obviously the 'mens club' must having great difficulties in deciding on this because it's been discussed for many months and still no decision has been made. Either way, assurances were given by Spinks that it would be available to all congregation members (in Australia)
- Making it available is of some concern, would it be made available to JW members without having to actively ask for it. Spinks (being from the Service Dept.) was not clear on this and it is up to someone else to determine this (Branch Committee or HQ?) but Spinks did say that the intention (the service desks intention?) that all members will be made aware of it and will have access to it.
- The Policy document includes statements that advise JWs what their rights are and need to be accessible by all JWs. Spinks and O'Brien agreed.
- would there be any changes to the 'Organized to do Jehovah's Will'? Stewart was told that they were unaware of any changes being planned. Since the Organized Book is available worldwide and the Policy is not it would not be surprising to see Stewart make a conclusion in his report that the Organization is not really interested in protecting children and improving policies because they have not made this Policy available worldwide and only do so when pushed, such as in the UK. The org. have only formulated any policies when pressured and only for a limited audience.
Outside Australia JWs are still left with only an ad hoc range of publications discussing child abuse and they do not include what rights they have or can expect.
Since this Policy will be made available to all JWs in Australia, I wonder what the reaction and thoughts will be by Australian JWs.. Since there are very few 'special' Policies currently written this document is going to have to stand out and bring to their attention the issue of child abuse within their organization. (By 'special' documents I mean ones like the Blood Policy, Divorce and Children and complicated donation arrangements).
It will be worth discussing this policy with JWs, whether Australian or not and particularly why this is only available to Australian JWs and not worldwide.