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Outrage over Lack of Investigation into Duplessis Orphans
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Press conference at the Atwater Library in Montreal
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Montreal, 5 February 2007: Freedom Magazine, le Commission des citoyens pour les droits de l’Homme Québec and survivors of the Duplessis Orphans today held a press conference at the Atwater Library to demand an investigation into the massive human rights violations still unresolved surrounding the incarceration of tens of thousands of normal Québec children in psychiatric institutions during the reign of Québec premier Maurice Duplessis. It is estimated that up to 100,000 healthy children were labelled as mentally ill and put in instititional care between 1940 and 1960. Many of the children were used as guinea pigs and experimented upon with unapproved psychiatric drugs, given unnecessary brain operations, electric shocked and labelled for life as mentally ill.
Christine Hahn, an award winning journalist for Freedom Magazine, who for the last seven years has been investigating the history of the Orphans, is outraged that there has been no official investigation into the atrocities suffered by these individuals who still suffer today.
"When I first started looking at this case in the year 2000, I was told that the Duplessis Orphans story was old, that there was nothing new to report and that the issues surrounding their horrific abuse had been resolved. But nothing could be further from the truth. During the past seven years, I’ve been able to uncover a shocking amount of criminal acts done to this group and the revelations continue. Along with the well-documented acts of physical abuse, I was able to document that these innocent children were used for the illegal testing of the drug chlorpromazine, better known as Largactil. Other evidence—which is still being uncovered—points to an organized eugenics program targeted at the Duplessis Orphans. But in spite of this mounting evidence, in spite of the fact we have documented criminal acts by the psychiatrists who “treated” the Orphans, no one has been charged. Not one psychiatrist has lost his license or ever been disciplined by a medical regulating body."
Hahn was supported in her call for an investigation by Rod Vienneau who has been the public face representing the Orphans for almost two decades in their fight for justice. Vienneau, the président de la Commission pour les victimes de crimes contre l’humanité, stated that “since 1992, the Orphans have been demanding that these false labels of mental disorders be removed from their medical files and that an independent public investigation be set up to bring to light all the circumstances surrounding this travesty of human rights and to bring charges against those responsible. ”
Denis Coté of le Commission des citoyens pour les droits de l’Homme Québec pointed out that little has changed for children in public institutions in Québec.
"The horrible history of the Duplessis Orphans is repeating in Québec orphanages and Youth Centres today. Recent statistics show that more than 40% of the children in such institutions are on more than one psychiatric drug at the same time. These drugs are known to have side effects such as hallucinations, hostility, suicidal thoughts and cardiac problems. Yet psychiatrists will treacherously use these side effects to increase dosages or add a second, third, or even a fourth drug to the mix. These children are transformed into zombies and are not helped but only betrayed."
Last September in Denver, the National Federation of Press Women awarded Freedom Magazine, published by the Church of Scientology International, 1st place in the category "Writing for the Web" for Ms. Hahn and Freedom editor Thomas J. Whittle's feature article "Crime of the Century?" on the horrific abuse suffered by the Duplessis Orphans.
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Freedom Magazine Celebrates 38th anniversary with Annual Human Rights Leadership Awards
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Freedom Magazine Human Rights Leadership Awards 2006
(L-R) Lisa Thompson, Salvation Army, Freedom Magazine editor Thomas G. Whittle, presenter Anne Archer, Bob Goodwin, Points of Light Foundation and Congressman Dan Burton (R-In) |
Washington, DC, 20 September 2006: Freedom Magazine celebrated its 38 anniversary with its annual Human Rights Leadership Awards presentation at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington D.C.
The first awardee, humanitarian Mr. Bob Goodwin, CEO of the Points of Light Foundation, bears a major responsibility for the more than 100 million volunteers which his organization has helped mobilize.
“Without the volunteer movement turned into a groundswell by Mr. Goodwin and people like him,” said Sylvia Stanard, DC Editor of Freedom Magazine and without the help provided by those volunteers, untold numbers of other people would lead lives far below the most basic human standards. Volunteers are a major source of direct help for people who would otherwise live without hope and advocacy for their rights to be treated equally and with decency.”
Academy Award nominated actress, Anne Archer (who appeared in Fatal Attraction, Patriot Games, The Ghost Whisperer) presented the awards. Ms. Archer recently founded Artists for Human Rights, to use the arts to promote human rights.
Also receiving an award were Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and Salvation Army firebrand Lisa Thompson, a leading expert on sexual slavery and human trafficking, head of the multi-faith Initiative against Sexual Trafficking.
Freedom Magazine focuses on human rights issues and areas in need of social reform. An international publication of the Churches of Scientology since 1968 it carries out investigative journalism in the public interest.
The Human Rights Leadership awards are given to individuals who exemplify the positive actions being taken by dedicated people who are taking a stand and are improving society.
Tom Whittle, Senior Editor of Freedom Magazine commented, “Repressive governments only come to power when the population is kept ignorant and uninformed. Through our publication, and through the annual Human Rights Leadership Awards, Freedom Magazine is doing everything possible internationally to expose abuses of human rights and to support the teaching of those same rights.”
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Story on Quebec Duplessis Orphans Atrocities Wins National Award
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Freedom Magazine editor Thomas G. Whittle accepting the National Federation of Press Women Award |
Denver, 16 September 2006: At the National Federation of Press Women's annual conference and awards presentation, Freedom Magazine, published by the Church of Scientology International, was awarded as the 1st place winner in the category "Writing for the Web" for its feature article, an exposé on thousands of the "Duplessis Orphans" who died or disappeared in Quebec's psychiatric institutions.
"Naming themselves after former Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis," Freedom Magazine states, "many of these individuals were not orphans at all, but had been born to poor families which had difficulty caring for them, or to unwed mothers. Although no official tallies were kept, over a span of several decades, it has been estimated they numbered in the tens of thousands and perhaps as many as 100,000. Duplessis was Quebec's premier from 1936 to 1939 and from 1944 to 1959. Due to human rights violations, electoral fraud, use of state powers against critics and other abuses, Duplessis' tenure has been called 'the Great Darkness.'"
As many as 50,000 innocent children may have died or disappeared in Quebec's psychiatric institutions, and the article reveals the sordid story to prevent any abuse of this character from ever happening again.
Described in the awards ceremony as "mesmerizing," the story was co-written by Canadian freelance journalist, Christine Hahn and Thomas G. Whittle, Editor of Freedom Magazine.
The National Federation of Press Women is a dynamic nationwide organization of professional women — and men — pursuing careers across the communications spectrum, and committed to "highest ethical standards in communications and protecting First Amendment rights."
Freedom Magazine, published by the Church of Scientology International in the United States and with 20 affiliated editions of magazines and journals published by Scientology churches in 16 more countries, has been carrying out investigative reporting in the public interest since 1968, giving a voice to those who might never otherwise be heard.
To read the full article on the Duplessis Orphans: English French
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