Canton of Uri clarifies allegations of abuse at the Karl Borromäus college

Canton of Uri clarifies allegations of abuse at the Karl Borromäus college

In the canton of Uri, the dark history of the College of Karl Borromäus is now scientifically processed. On Wednesday, the government council announced that a comprehensive study on sexual assault and acts of violence, which took place in the 1960s and 1970s, was commissioned. The University of Zurich will carry out this study, which is to clarify the role of the canton in particular during this incident. The government council was affected by the events and the lack of protective mechanisms, which were not available to victims in the time. The results of the study are intended to bring transparency and enable an "open and honest processing", which also takes place in cooperation with the Benedictine monastery Mariastein and the Mariannhiller missionaries. nau.ch reports.

The College Karl Borromäus, which has been led by Benedictine monks since 1906, was given the canton of Uri in 1978. In the 1970s, the canton was given information about attacks by two fathers. So far, there is only limited information on these incidents, which is why the comprehensive foundation of the study is of great importance. Government Councilor Georg Simmen assured that the processing of the attacks and the role of the authorities for the canton of Uri is of high priority. In order to do justice to those affected, the focus of the study will also be on their statements and the experiences of contemporary witnesses.

a strong sign of processing

The Uri Education and Culture Directorate emphasized that the processing should not only serve justice for the students concerned, but also for the prevention of future attacks. Upon request, those affected can contact the University of Zurich or the educational and cultural directorate to share their experiences. For this purpose, a security net is created to help victims to feel supported in their complaint process.

The independent advice centers in Switzerland are also a valuable contact point. Those affected can search for further help at www.opferhilfe-schweiz.ch. Ralph Aschwanden, the children's and youth officer of the canton of Uri, is available to those affected for questions under the phone number +41 41 875 2096 or by email at Ralph.awanden@ur.ch.

a step into the future

The scientific reappraisal of these serious cases of abuse is a necessary step for the canton of Uri in order to do justice to the affected person and to protect future generations. The initiative shows that the canton is ready to face its responsibility and to lead an open dialogue about these dark chapters. Through the cooperation with the University of Zurich and other institutions, everyone involved hopes for a comprehensive and transparent processing of events and a better understanding of the role of the authorities at the time.