“A Journey of Hope” was the theme for a workshop organized by the diocese of Port-Louis’, in Mauritius, Feb 12-17, 2024, that drew Safeguarding delegates from French speaking Churches in Africa to the Indian Ocean Islands. 

The week-long gathering was sponsored by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, as part of its program to foster local churches’ capacity to provide structures for reporting of allegations of abuse and victim accompaniment services.  

Dr. Emilie Rivet, clinical psychologist, member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and Caroline Perrin, Canon Lawyer led the workshop for 28 delegates for Safeguarding including clergy, religious and lay people from more than 10 countries. 

Accompaniment on the Path to Healing 

The organizers identified three aspects of ‘the journey of hope’ theme. The first was the psychological aspect looking at how to foster protection of children from sexual abuse and its various consequences, how to appropriately and safely accompany victims/survivors in disclosing an abuse and accompanying them in the aftermath of a disclosure.  

The second session sensitized participants to the importance of active listening in victim/survivor accompaniment. This includes promoting professional trauma-informed training to ensure that church personnel cultivate a safe and appropriate attitude to receiving reports of alleged abuse from victims and their families. The session also emphasized the importance of creating local networks of professionals to facilitate the service of victim/survivor accompaniment. 

The third session focused on the pastoral and legislative aspects of receiving a disclosure of an abuse and accompanying those impacted. During the session the crucial need for collaboration between ecclesial and civil actors was emphasized as an essential element for the creation of a comprehensive, credible and safe framework for case management. 

The contextual differences that exist between the local churches in French speaking Africa were explored, as well as the effects these differences may have on the Safeguarding community and the protocols and policies being implemented, particularly considering universal requirements.  

The Diocese of Port-Louis code of conduct was presented as an example of good Safeguarding practice and participants were invited to sign it in a sign of engagement, accountability and transparency.  

“They are Our Future” 

Reflecting on the fledgling Francophone Africa Safeguarding community, Sister Maria Claude said “I take with me a deep and strong desire to live to the full safeguarding. To work towards the setting up of this protection so that no more children are abused and that the issue is brought out in the open”.   

The focus of the training was to help those involved in Safeguarding to better accompany minors and vulnerable adults who have been subject to sexual abuse, working towards making the Church a safer place for all.  

“These young people embody the future of their respective countries,” observed Miora Rakotonirainy, an economics teacher from Madagascar, adding “so it is very important to protect them and set up a framework within which they can be protected and safeguarded. They are our future, our future leaders, educators, teachers and priests.”