When my children were placed in care, I trusted the system to protect them. Instead, they endured unimaginable abuse, and what followed was a suffocating silence that left us isolated and desperate for answers.
The care system, designed to safeguard vulnerable children, failed them at every turn. The abuse they suffered was horrific, but the lack of accountability and transparency from authorities was almost as painful. No one listened. No one acted.
A System That Turned Its Back
After reporting the abuse, I expected swift action—investigations, support, justice. Instead, we were met with bureaucratic indifference. Emails went unanswered. Complaints were dismissed. It felt as though the system had closed ranks, shielding itself from scrutiny.
My children, already traumatised, were further wounded by the silence. They needed validation, reassurance that their suffering mattered. Instead, they were left questioning whether anyone cared at all.
The Weight of Unspoken Truths
The emotional toll was unbearable. The silence wasn’t just an absence of words—it was a denial of their pain. Every unanswered plea for help reinforced their sense of worthlessness.
I fought tirelessly for accountability, but the system seemed designed to wear us down. Legal hurdles, opaque procedures, and institutional denial became our daily reality.
Breaking the Silence
Finally, after years of struggle, we found allies—journalists, advocates, and a handful of professionals who refused to look away. Their support was a lifeline, but it shouldn’t take a village to get justice for abused children.
This isn’t just our story. Countless families suffer in silence, their voices stifled by a system that prioritises reputation over responsibility.
Until the care system confronts its failures, more children will pay the price. They deserve better. We all do.
