Clerical abuse survivor starts Brazil’s first network for other victims 57 years after ordeal

A victim of clerical sexual abuse that occurred 57 years ago has created Brazil’s first organisation that represents other victims of such abuse.

The Network of Survivors of Ecclesiastical Abuse is the initiative of Valdea Caratchuk, a resident in Brazil’s Paraná state. She “rediscovered” what happened to her only 11 years ago, during therapy, after decades hiding it under layers of fear and shame.

The South American country has had at least 148 reported cases of children and teenagers being abused by members of the clergy since 2000, according to a recent study, but reportedly the numbers could be much higher.