Published Thursday, 08 July 2010
The victims' group, led by Margaret McGuckin, who was abused during her seven years in care at the Sisters of Nazareth, met with SDLP assemblyman Conal McDevitt and Patrick Corrigan from Amnesty International on Thursday afternoon.
They are putting pressure on the Executive for a full investigation into the abuse that occurred in Northern Ireland.
"We want to let them hear our stories, the same way that we did with the Bishops", Margaret McGuckin told UTV.
"I think it's important that they feel our pain and know what we are going through and what the other victims out there who have never got to tell their story. Sadly the ones that have passed away, the ones that have killed themselves rather than bear the pain and go through it daily. We want to do this for them especially."
In November, MLAs backed an SDLP motion calling for an inquiry into the extent of child abuse in Catholic Church and state-run institutions in the region.
"We want them to bring closure to the memories we have - the open wounds. We've had apologies from the religious orders, the pope, and we now want an apology from the state," Ms McGuckin added.
Mr McDevitt said the Executive should apologise for the abuse they endured.
"As an Executive they owe these people an apology. And as an Executive and an Assembly we owe them an inquiry - but we have to get it right. We have to make sure that when we do put processes of inquiry in place, it is robust and is capable of delivering the survivors what they need - which is the truth," the SDLP MLA said.
Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Programme Director of Amnesty International, said victims had waited too long for justice.
"The Northern Ireland Executive has an urgent and overriding obligation to institute a thorough investigation of child abuse both inside and outside Church-run institutions within this jurisdiction".
"The victims of abuse in institutions in Northern Ireland deserve nothing less than a full investigation into the dreadful harm that was perpetrated against them".
"The survivors look to the government to break the chains of secrecy, expose the truth and provide a measure of justice and redress".
"That is why we are standing today with victims and survivors in calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to establish an independent, impartial and effective inquiry into historic institutional child abuse here."
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness confirmed they intend to meet with the victims.
An OFMDFM spokesman told UTV they now need to find a date that suits both parties.