SOS Children's Village: Longer Report with More Details Emerged

While the already available version is anonymized, the long version, which is under lock and key, is said to contain all names and details of allegations and suspicions, according to "Kurier" (Wednesday). In addition to child abuse, money laundering and human trafficking are also said to be included, it was reported.

Both documents were reportedly prepared by an investigation commission ("Independent Special Commission", ISC) appointed by the umbrella organization SOS Children's Villages International in 2023. A spokesperson for SOS Children's Villages International told "Kurier" that it is still being examined whether and in what form parts of it can be forwarded to the public prosecutor's office. However, the findings in the ISC report are being treated with "utmost seriousness." All member associations are also obliged to inform authorities about allegations, it was emphasized.

SOS Children's Villages Austria could only briefly review

SOS Children's Villages Austria stated to the APA that the long version is not available and therefore cannot be forwarded to the public prosecutor's office. In 2023, they were only able to review a section of the report for a limited time, which deals with the already known case of a major donor to the organization. It was already communicated on Friday that the management, in coordination with the supervisory board, submitted a statement of facts along with all "currently available documents" to the Innsbruck public prosecutor's office. The focus is also said to be on the former long-time and 2024 deceased SOS Children's Villages President Helmut Kutin.

Kutin came into focus because he allegedly allowed a major donor access to children in Nepal - even after the man allegedly abused children there. As it became known, the Munich public prosecutor's office was investigating Kutin in the meantime, after being informed by the association "SOS Children's Villages worldwide" based in Munich. However, the investigations were discontinued due to his death. Kutin had already been stripped of the honorary presidency by SOS Children's Villages International and "SOS Children's Villages worldwide".

Allegations against several children's village locations and founder Gmeiner

A report by the weekly newspaper "Falter" about allegations against the SOS Children's Village at the location in Moosburg in Carinthia triggered the abuse case in mid-September. Shortly thereafter, allegations against other children's villages also came to light. In the meantime, the public prosecutor's offices in Klagenfurt, Innsbruck, and Salzburg are investigating the allegations. It also became known that the already deceased SOS Children's Villages founder Hermann Gmeiner allegedly sexually abused several boys. After the incidents became known, SOS Children's Villages set up a reform commission led by former OGH President Irmgard Griss.

Renaming of Hermann Gmeiner Street in East Tyrol

After the allegations became known, several municipalities announced that they would consider renaming streets named after Gmeiner. According to media reports, the municipal council of the East Tyrolean municipality of Nußdorf-Debant unanimously decided on this step on Tuesday. The street - where the municipal office is also located - will be called Marktstraße in the future. The second oldest SOS Children's Village is located in the town. Recently, former residents have also come forward, reporting violent assaults in the 1990s.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.