Are you a Child Abuse Survivor willing to help “Change Laws and Change Lives”? Read on...

by AndersonsInfo 3 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  AndersonsInfo

  Are you a Child Abuse Survivor willing to help “Change Laws and Change Lives”?

  Do you agree that “Reporting abuse is the key to prevention and the start of heal...ing”?

  As president of SCAARS, (Stop Child Abuse – Advocates for Reform and Safety), a non-profit lobbying corporation, I’m writing to inform you that arrangements have been made where abuse survivors can speak with policymakers at the California Capitol in Sacramento, specifically on January 15th and 16th. (Also, plans are in the works for similar meetings soon after.) Please note that meetings or discussions will not be media events, but will be private discussions. Capitol protocol will be observed at all times.

  Inasmuch as the serious and lasting effects of child sexual abuse are best explained by those who have been harmed, discussions will be centered on ways to prevent the crime of child abuse, which is also a “public” safety issue, and about how abuse victims can begin the healing process.

  If you are an abuse survivor who would like to add your voice to this effort, please send an email to scaars.org@gmail.com. Your response is needed ASAP as the January 15th and 16th schedule is filling up. Please note: To be part of any of these events, it will be by “invitation only.” If you’re interested in attending, in the subject line of your email please write, “Abuse survivor willing to help SCAARS bring change.” Include in your message a brief description of your experience. Incidentally, policymakers appreciate hearing suggestions for remedies, so if you’re invited to participate, please feel free to offer your ideas. And keep in mind that anything discussed will remain confidential.

  As a suggestion, please visit scaars.org where SCAARS efforts are outlined, such as seeking to improve the laws pertaining to child abuse, mandatory reporting, the applicable statutes of limitations, as well as court outcomes in the judicial process.

  Presently, SCAARS has a specific bill intended to increase mandated reporting of child abuse occurring in religious institutions. SCAARS will also support a variety of bills to improve such culturally related problems as sex trafficking, child pornography, abuse in the Foster Care system, sexual harassment, creating child safe cultures, healing the mental and physical harm caused by abuse, and related civil rights infringements.

  Even if you’re not from California, or did not experience child sexual abuse, your voice is a valuable asset to bring about change. To show support for SCAARS efforts, write in the subject line of an email, “Willing to support SCAARS.” Make it known if you would like to be an advocate supporting the cultural changes needed to protect children and heal survivors, this through positive legislative changes in the State of California, the United States, and eventually, around the world. SCAARS lobbyists can’t do it alone – We need you to send scaars.org an email expressing your interest and support.

  Thank you,

  Barbara Anderson
  
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  jwundubbed

  Do you agree that “Reporting abuse is the key to prevention and the start of heal...ing”?

  No. That puts the onus of change on the survivors. It can take survivors of child abuse up to 30 years to be ready to report their cases. Reporting isn't as big of an issue as statute of limitations. You can finally get up the nerve to say something only to find out that the time limit is up and you have no recourse even though you get to live all that time and for the rest of your life with the repercussions of what happened to you.

  Reporting is not the key to preventing abuse. Having zero statute of limitations and having prosecutions that fit the crime are the key. Put the onus of change onto the legal system where it needs to be instead of putting all the pressure on the victims to report the abuse.

  Healing starts with the person who was abused and is helped when they know that person can't hurt more people. Healing comes when justice is served. Just reporting the abuse can be as traumatizing as the abuse itself, because our legal system tends to victimize the victims all over again and then the criminals get minor sentences for their heinous crimes.

  If you mean, that people like the JWs should be required by law to take reports of sexual abuse to governmental authorities, well that would be a step in the right direction and it will help prevent FURTHER abuse... but it won't prevent the abuse that already happened. Reporting abuse, doesn't stop a person from abusing more people. Having the right laws in place and having longer prison times for those criminals will prevent further abuse of children.
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  Vidiot

  jwundubbed - "... the JWs should be required by law to take reports of sexual abuse to governmental authorities..."
  

  Assuming that the Org's "business model" is as dependent on their tax-exemption as I suspect, I'm really starting to wonder if this will turn out to be the the WTS's long-term downfall...

  ...i.e. f/when they lose their "charity" status due to refusal to budge on their non-reporting policies.
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  cha ching

  Jwundubbed - If you mean, that people like the JWs should be required by law to take reports of sexual abuse to governmental authorities, well that would be a step in the right direction and it will help prevent FURTHER abuse... but it won't prevent the abuse that already happened.

  So true. The WT commonly tries to "get out of their responsibilities" to report by claiming that they have "clergy penitent privilege"... in a special way.

  If WT and the elders HAD reported ANY molestations, these molesters would get on a list with police, and if people would not get DF'd for 'talking about it', then families could be warned, and molesters themselves would have a harder time tricking people.

  It's not that the victim's are being held responsible to report the crime, it's that the people who are already SUPPOSE to report are not reporting. They are making the problem worse.

  Laws have to start somewhere, and making sure that institutions report is just ONE of the laws that need refining and enforcing.

  I myself have friends who have been abused, and have been in congregations where this has happened. So many people say, "If only they had warned us, if only we could have said something, others would not have had to suffer" It's not that the victims want ANY one to suffer, but there is always a first.

  Making it safe for kids to report is another goal. No fear of retaliation or punishment. Step by step we must try to make things better for our 'next generation,' and help change the culture that we live in.