Child Abuse in ISKCON

While child abuse and neglect happen in all socio-economic, religious and secular communities, the history of the formation of this Office stems from child abuse in ISKCON. The courageous men and women who came forward following their childhood experiences in ISKCON, many of whom attended boarding schools, insisted that changes be made for the protection of children in ISKCON.

Years of dialogue between ISKCON youth and the GBC resulted in resolutions which became ISKCON law. The Children of Krishna was established as an initial effort to help the survivors of child abuse. Shortly thereafter the Child Protection Office became an official resource to ISKCON’s operations.

The Formation of Gurukulas

In the formative years of ISKCON (1965-1977) Srila Prabhupada instructed the devotees to prioritize care for the children which he demonstrated through his personal example. “Now I am concerned that the Gurukula experiment should come out nicely. These children are the future hope of our Society, so it is a very important matter how we are training them in Krishna consciousness from the very childhood.” Letter to Satsvarupa das Goswami New York April 11, 1973.

“Gurukula is our most important project. If the children are given a Krishna Conscious education from early childhood then there is great hope for the future of the world.” Letter to Dayananda das and Nandarani dd – Calcutta January 27, 1973.

Srila Prabhupada said “If we are able to make a whole generation of our children into fine Krishna Conscious preachers, that will be the glory of our movement and the glory of your country as well. But if we neglect somehow or other and if we lose even one Vaisnava, that is very great loss.” Letter to Stoka Krsna das at the Dallas gurukula June 20, 1972.

Children were sent to gurukulas in other states or countries away from their parents. Too many of those put in charge of the children were unqualified for the responsibility. Some gravely abused the children – physically, emotionally, sexually. Sometimes the children’s basic needs for appropriate food, rest, clothing, education and medical attention were neglected. As a result, hundreds of children in different parts of the world experienced child maltreatment in ISKCON.

Child Abuse Becomes Known

During the 1980s abuse of children became known to ISKCON leaders. Initially, case by case, the GBC directly addressed the matters, in some circumstances reporting to law enforcement while deciding the relationship of the offender to ISKCON.

For many years the ISKCON Ministry of Education (reorganized in 1988 as the Board of Education then renamed in 1994 as the GBC Education Committee) was designated to handle child abuse allegations in ISKCON. In the mid to late 1990s, Yasoda dd/Diane Priolo, a Social Worker in North Carolina, helped ISKCON investigate serious reports of child abuse, many of which occurred in India.

In the 1990s the children, then young adults, spoke out about the maltreatment they received at the hands of those in charge of their care. Meetings between gurukula alumni and the GBC were held in New York, Los Angeles and Alachua to name a few. In 1996 Children of Krishna, Inc. formed to provide educational grants as well as career and personal counseling to former gurukula students.

In April 1998 the Association for the Protection of Vaishnava Children, Inc. (APVC) was formed and legally registered in Alachua, Florida, USA to serve ISKCON global. The APVC came to be commonly known as the Child Protection Office for ISKCON.

The Purposes of the Child Protection Office

The Purposes of this office are officially registered as:

1. To coordinate efforts to investigate and settle claims of past child abuse in ISKCON.
2. To coordinate investigation and resolution of current and future child abuse cases connected with ISKCON.
3. To keep all records and files for use in screening staff members of ISKCON.
4. To disseminate information to ISKCON temples, schools and parents on child protection.
5. To organize seminars and training on child protection in ISKCON.
6. To make sure systems for child protection screening in ISKCON are in place.
7. To monitor and train local child protection teams.
8. To coordinate care for confirmed victims of child abuse in ISKCON.
9. To prepare standards and guidelines for child care in ISKCON.
10. To help coordinate service opportunities and special programs for abuse victims/survivors in ISKCON.

The Child Protection Task Force Report

The Child Protection Task Force Report became the official working set of guidelines for handling child abuse in ISKCON. Over the years, newer GBC resolutions pertaining to child abuse were made into ISKCON law. Eventually the updated manual became the ISKCON Child Protection Policy and Operational Guidelines.

• View the most up-to-date version of the Child Protection Task Force. (link)
• View a list of GBC resolutions through the years that pertain to child protection. (link)

Child Protection Office Founding and Past Directors

Dhira Govinda das was the first registered agent of ISKCON’s International Child Protection Office. He served as Director from 1998 to 2004. With the help of Ijya das and Malini dd, nearly 75 child abuse cases from different parts of the world were adjudicated though this ecclesiastic system.

From 2004 to 2009 Tamohara das ACBSP was the Director of ISKCON’s International Child Protection Office with assistance from Krishna Keshava das. Mahavishnupriya dd ACBSP helped the CPO in various key roles over these years.

In 2009 the International CPO moved to South Africa when Champakalata dasi IDS became the Director. In 2016 Kamalesh Krishna das BCS took over directorship making the International CPO base in London, England.

Regional Child Protection Offices are developing around the world that allow for quicker response time to allegations, support for devotees by someone familiar with local laws, and accessibility to training and resources in the local language.

The Child Protection Office for North America started in 2011 with the North American GBC deciding to invest in a CPO that can provide regional support and oversight. Lilasuka dasi has served as Director since its inception, helping the temples in the United States and Canada comply with ISKCON’s child protection policies, implement screening procedures, support local Child Protection Volunteers to be trained and active, conduct educational training, and respond to concerns of child maltreatment.