Yesterday on the 20th October 2025, SINA entrepreneur Janet Aguti met Pope Leo XIV as part of a delegation from Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA), a global coalition of survivors and advocates. The hour-long audience opened a direct line of dialogue on child protection and accountability across the Catholic Church, described by several outlets and ECA itself as a “historic and hopeful moment”.
Image Copyright by Vatican Media
For decades, survivor groups have pushed the Church toward clear, universal standards to prevent abuse and respond justly when it occurs. In the meeting, ECA, where Janet Aguti serves as the Vice-Chairperson, urged the Pope to embrace strict zero tolerance and consistent, global safeguards. The Pope signaled openness to continued dialogue with ECA and the ECA members described feeling “heard”.
Janet Aguti is a Ugandan survivor, social worker, and founder of Totya Platform, a social enterprise born at SINA. Totya—“don’t be afraid” in Luganda—helps survivors of sexual violence attain first aid medical support, psycho-social support and legal aid, while creating awareness and education on women’s and children’s rights and advocating for institutions to change how they prevent and respond to abuse.
When the Catholic Church adopts and enforces universal zero tolerance, transparent processes, and external accountability, it will set a benchmark other faiths, schools, and youth-serving institutions in Uganda and across Africa are pressed to follow. That’s the systemic lever Totya Platform champions and big steps were made towards in the Vatican.
Read more at BBC: “Catholic clergy sex abuse survivors hopeful after Pope Leo meeting”