New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a formal apology in Parliament on Tuesday, acknowledging that thousands of people, mostly Indigenous Maori, had been “horribly” abused for decades.

“It was terrible. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened,” Luxon said of the 200,000 children and vulnerable adults in state and faith-based care who have suffered institutional physical and sexual abuse over the past 70 years. years.

“Today, I apologize on behalf of the government to all those who suffered abuse, harm and neglect while in care. I make this apology to survivors on behalf of myself and my previous governments.”

As the Prime Minister delivered his speech in Parliament, abuse survivors filled a public gallery.

‘An unthinkable national disaster’

The apology follows a public investigation by the Royal Commission of Inquiry, which uncovered widespread abuse, torture and neglect in care facilities from 1950 to 2019.

Between 1950 and 2019, almost a third of New Zealand’s 650,000 children and vulnerable adults in state, foster and church care experienced physical, sexual, verbal or psychological abuse.

The commission described systemic abuse as an “unthinkable national disaster”, highlighting cases of child sexual abuse, forced adoption of mothers and children, unintentional sterilization and electric shock.

The investigation found the abuse was “shrouded in racism”, primarily targeting Indigenous Maori.

Government promises reform

The government has pledged to address the inquiry’s 233 recommendations, including new security measures in state care, while the Prime Minister said total compensation to survivors could reach billions of dollars.

“Some of you may feel that after so long and so much pain, my words don’t matter much.

“But I hope today, with this apology and acknowledgment of your burden, will be a little lighter for some of you,” Luxon said.

ss/lo (AP, AFP, Reuters)