September 17, 2001

 SUPPORT THE LEGAL CLAIMS OF THE ABUSED ORPHANS

Thirty orphans, ranging from age 12 to 22, have let it be known that they want to file a suit against the Swiss based Terre des Hommes organization (NGO) whose personnel, under the cover of taking care of the famine-orphaned children, sexually abused many of them. A British citizen and employee of the said NGO is now on trial in Addis Abeba accused of pedophilia.

SOCEPP exposed and condemned the abuse of the children years go when some of the children who were members of Circus Ethiopia defected and sought asylum in Australia. The government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi not only failed to protect the children but actually denied that they were being abused and promoted the cover up that was done. The victims of the NGO are now suing the body for the abuse and the neglect, for exposing them to danger and for letting its employee take advantage of their innocence and condition. The victims of the sexual abuse, most of whom are boys, are ostracized by the homophobe society though what happened was through no choice or fault of theirs.

 SOCEPP fully backs the legal claims of the victims of the Terre des Hommes and calls on qualified Ethiopian lawyers to take up their case and to give them the required legal support and counsel. The attempt by the NGO to deny its wrongdoing cannot be allowed to prevail.

SOCEPP