Europa Press reports that AbusosTJ (JW Abuses), an activist group in Spain, plans to file a legal complaint against the Watchtower offices in Spain. This action is due to their refusing to release internal documents, files and other evidence involving dozens of child abuse cases within the Jehovah’s Witness religion.
Jehovah’s Witness Members Will Report the (Watchtower) Organization for Failing to Provide Them with documents Regarding Child Abuse
By EUROPA PRESS / lainformacion.com
MADRID | 1/16/2017 – 3:00 p.m.
[Revised Translation of Original Report]
The AbusosTJ [JW Abuses] group, which represents ex-members of Jehovah’s Witnesses who report cases of sexual abuse in congregations, will file a complaint against the entity for not providing them with documents on cases of abuse that they requested and which [include] envelopes and secret files. According to them, in Spain they have been contacted by “dozens” of victims.
The members of this collective [group], Miguel García López and Israel Florez, went to the national headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ajalvir (Madrid) on Monday, January 16, [2016] after having requested through a Burofax with certified content [sent] to the president of the National Board of Directors of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Spain [requesting] the delivery of “all the secret documents that the religion keeps on their cases of abuse of minors.”
The group has indicated that they have received a negative response to their request and that they have not been approached by any executive or ecclesiastical officer of the religion, so they have informed the receptionist that they will file a complaint.
Members of TJ Abuses call for “redress and justice,” the change of all “secret” protocols imposed by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and a clear indication to local elders that Police or Civil Guard [will be notified of] any evidence of child abuse.
Last December, the group wrote an open letter to the National Board of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watch Tower Bible [and Tract Society] in Brooklyn, New York, the legal entity that supports the work, where they complained that congregations hide sexual abuse and [they] demand justice.
“To the demands in the United States will continue our commitment and defense of the rights of the children, in all the instances, and by [any] means of communication throughout Europe. Nothing will stop us in our personal commitment to achieving without hate or grudge, reparation and justice for ALL victims of child abuse within the cult of the Watch Tower,” the letter said.
Specifically, they complained that when a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses is accused of sexual abuse, congregations have “secret” courts with internal rules that judge [the] cases and “silence the victims.” As they say, “thousands of children” have been victims.
Here is an English translation of another article [ChronicaGlobal] about the activists delivering document requests to the Watchtower Branch headquarters in Spain. Link to the original listed below and a companion YouTube video. This is an overlap of the article quoted above:
This is how Jehovah’s Witnesses dismiss victims of sexual abuse
Crónica Global accedes to the national headquarters of the religious cult in the company of two former members who demand to see the secret archives of their cases
Members of the group Abusos TJ, formed by people who have denounced abuses within Jehovah’s Witnesses in Spain, have moved to the national headquarters of the cult in Ajalvir (Madrid) on Monday to personally demand from the National Board of Directors the delivery of all The secret personal files where there would be evidence of the assaults to which they would have been subjected and that were documented by a judicial committee of the confession.
Crónica Global has been with them and has become the first means to access the facilities without a prior appointment. The victims, Miguel Garcia and Israel Flores, hoped to receive the information, as they had previously announced when they made a request via burofax with certified content. The date from which they could have received these documents was Monday, December 16.
According to legal advisors of Abusos TJ, Jehovah’s Witnesses may have responded with a negative certification (in which they would confirm that the documents have been removed) or delivering the reports to pave the legal path in order to resolve allegations of abuse to Minors in the criminal jurisdiction.
As seen in the video, no responsible person has attended them. He has been the front desk clerk who has limited himself to answering your claims.
COMPLAINT
On leaving the headquarters, Miguel Garcia insisted on the delivery of documents: “My name is Miguel Garcia, a Spanish citizen, I hereby deliver this note addressed to Mr. Alberto López Mayo, I need to be received and to deliver all personal and complementary documentation on The sexual abuse I suffered and were documented by a judicial committee of this confession inscribed in the Ministry of Justice. “
Subsequently, they have approached the police station of Paracuellos de Jarama to file a complaint demanding that personal documents be transferred to “be related to the judicial proceedings” that are open in several Spanish courts.
Lack of transparency
As reported from this medium, the institution has ordered cases to be resolved domestically, despite the victims’ claims to “repair” the damage through a public and transparent process and the design and implementation of a child protection policy. The less you avoid similar cases.
Following Monday’s denial, the victims’ group will be received by deputies from the Socialist group’s Justice Commission this afternoon.
After Miguel Garcia and Israel Flores went to the police station to fill out a report, they went to see a well-known woman representative in Spain’s Congress who they had an appointment with, They then spent 40-minutes in discussion with her about their movement. She expressed satisfaction with their explanation and outlined the next step to take which is to submit to her a list of questions regarding what the government can do to satisfy their demands of the Watch Tower. These questions will be turned over to the proper government officials to answer. By law, the government has 30-days to respond. She asked that they keep her informed of the progress of their cause.
Here is a link to an extended discussion of the background and ongoing processes involved with this case. The prime participant, Miguel Garcia Lopez, participates in the conversation thread and provides additional background information:
LINKS:
http://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/vida/testigos-jehova-despachan-vicitimas-abusos_66517_102.html [Includes videos of delivery of documents]