The University of the Western Cape (UWC) proudly acknowledges the contribution of Professor Benyam Dawit Mezmur – a renowned scholar in the Dullah Omar Institute (DOI) in the Faculty of Law – to the Vatican’s global safeguarding efforts against child sexual abuse.

As a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Advisory Board to the Roman Pontiff created in 2014, Prof Mezmur recently participated in the drafting as well as launch of the Commission’s Second Annual Report, presented at the Vatican in Rome.

Given that the 1.4 billion-member strong Church has been shaken by scandals of sexual abuse over decades, it is no surprise that there is significant interest on the work of the Pontifical Commission. International news outlets such as CNN, Associated Press, Reuters, The New York Times, ABC News, and Le Figaro have reported on it.

A press conference at the Vatican this week. Image: Supplied

The Report, titled “Second Annual Report on Church Policies and Procedures for Safeguarding” has been described as “unusually critical” and has made multiple important findings and recommendations. For example it is reported that local Churches vary widely in their safeguarding progress as some have robust systems in place, while others are mid-way, and some are just beginning. Moreover cultural and societal factors - such as entrenched silence - continue to hinder reporting and support for victims/survivors.

The report, which includes testimony from 40 survivors of clerical sexual abuse, calls for “conversional justice” - a framework built on truth, reparations, and institutional reform. It criticises “performative gestures” by Church leaders and highlights disturbing patterns of retaliation against victims who speak out.

Image:Supplied

Prof Mezmur’s involvement reflects his deep international expertise in children’s rights and his commitment to justice. At UWC, he leads the Children’s Rights Project at DOI and lectures in the LLM modules International Protection of Human Rights and Children’s Rights and the Law. He also lectures at various institutions including at Harvard University, University of Geneva, and Addis Ababa University,   and has held research fellowships in the US, and the Netherlands.

Beyond academia, Prof Mezmur is the longest serving member (and former chairperson) of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and previously led the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) of the African Union. His wide engagement within these and other related platforms, and academic work on children’s rights in Africa, have positioned him as a leading voice in the global child protection space.

The Vatican report has drawn widespread attention. Survivors and advocacy groups have welcomed its call for reparations and transparency, but also warned that “cultural resistance” and lack of enforcement remain serious obstacles. The Commission’s own requests for information have reportedly been ignored in some cases, raising concerns about institutional accountability.

The commission discussed various kinds of reparations for abuse survivors, noting that survivors’ wishes varied between different cultures. Financial compensation was one part of reparations, but several abuse survivors from Africa, for example, might just want an apology, Prof Mezmur said. Some were interested in restitution, others in rehabilitation. Many more reparation-related conversations need to happen before any reparations are adopted at the local level, he added.

Pope Benedict XVI and Professor Benyam Dawit Mezmur. Image: Supplied

Asked about next year’s Annual Report, Prof Mezmur said, “For now, the Commission is focused, as it should be, on making sure that the current report’s recommendations are taken seriously and implemented”.

Reflecting on the future prospects of success of the work of the Pontifical Commission, he added: “I grew up in a Catholic school; I started my professional work at the Medical Missionaries of Mary in Addis Ababa - a catholic charity that cared for HIV/AIDS orphans. I have personally experienced that the Catholic Church is a tremendous force for good. But this is not the experience for everyone, and I am confident that Pope Leo XIV is committed to continuing the trajectory of making the Church a safe and just space for every child”.

Professor Mezmur’s role in this process is testament to the calibre of scholarship and advocacy nurtured at UWC. His work embodies our commitment to ethical leadership and the protection of the most vulnerable.

UWC stands firmly behind Prof Mezmur and all scholars who contribute to global justice. His voice, grounded in research and compassion, continues to shape international policy and safeguard the rights of children worldwide.