Child Abuse

Cardinal Pell launches appeal against child sex conviction

Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell appeared in an Australian court for an appeal hearing against his convictions for sexually abusing two choir boys in the 1990s.

After a young girl’s murder, Pakistan seethes with fury

The country's police force is being accused of the inept and insensitive handling of the case of 10-year-old Farishta, raising questions about the entire justice system.

50 children saved after police bust paedophile website - Interpol

More arrests were expected as officials in nearly 60 countries pursue investigations stemming from an Interpol operation launched two years ago into a hidden "dark web" site with 63,000 users worldwide.

Australian journalists on trial over Pell trial coverage

23 journalists and 13 news outlets have been accused of aiding and abetting contempt of court by overseas media and breaching suppression orders which can be punished with jail for up to five years.

German police officer still on duty after conviction of child abuse

A German prosecutor's investigation into the child sexual abuse case involving police in Germany's Lugde has revealed gross negligence by the authorities following an array of scandals erupting one after another related to the case.

More than 300 'predator' priests abused children in Pennsylvania – report

Roman Catholic priests in northeastern US state sexually abused thousands of children over a 70-year period and silenced victims through "the weaponisation of faith", says a report made public by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

'Soul-crushing' death wakes Japan to child abuse

Japan on Friday has announced the emergency measures nationwide to confirm the safety of all preschoolers with help of law enforcement officials following the death of a five-year-old girl.

Children in California home were strangled, waterboarded

Prosecutors say Ina Rogers' children were also punched, burned with scalding water, shot with weapons such as crossbows and bb guns, and hit with weapons such as sticks and bats.

California man gets longer prison term for sexually assaulting toddler

A 23-year-old man convicted of sexually assaulting a 3-year-old girl got a new sentence of 25 years to life in prison after an appeals court found the trial judge's 10-year sentence too lenient.

Turkey considers chemical castration for child abusers

Backing new legal measures against child abusers, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says child abuse leads to society's collapse.

Australian probe into child abuse recommends ending Catholic celibacy

Australia's longest-running royal commission has been investigating since 2012 how the Catholic Church and other institutions responded to sexual abuse of children in the country over 90 years.

Australian police charge Vatican Cardinal Pell over child sex abuse

Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis' chief financial adviser and Australia's most senior Catholic, is the highest-ranking Vatican official to ever be charged in the church's long-running sexual abuse scandal.