- Target:
- Against Child Sexual Assault
- Region:
- Australia
This petition is now closed.
Child sexual assault is a pervasive problem in Australia. Thousands of children are touched by this issue because, as a nation we have NOT enforced the "understanding" that some acts are utterly unacceptable, unjustifiable and completely taboo.
Social and legal sanctions do not reinforce the sense of taboo and often, though inaction or inadequate action effectively turns a blind eye to the issue of sexual assault toward our children. This sense of social consent to these acts give perpetrators a sense of 'rightness' it also engenders in the victim a sense that it is ‘OK’ to be sexually abused.
Unfortunately, sexual assault is considered a relatively common experience in the lives of children. 1 on 4 girls and 1 on 6 boys will be touched by this evil before their 18 birthday! Child sexual assault is happening in Australia because some men believe it is OK to sexually abuse a child. Men do so because they can.
Why? Because the system is unable or unwilling to act in order to protect the most vulnerable -our children.
The abuser gains considerable satisfaction from this situation. It reinforces his sense of power regarding his ability to outwit, deceive or simply manipulate a system who protect him unless the victim.
So, in order to make Australia a better tomorrow for our children, we ask the government to put in place strategies to prevent child sexual assault and to protect children from its devastating consequences.
The suggestions we propose is that:
* Government raises public campaign awareness about child sexual assault;
* Safety education taught in all schools and Childcare. These programs should increase a child’s knowledge of sexual abuse and how to respond, and may even facilitate subsequent disclosures:
* A lead Federal agency, or consortium of such agencies, must be designated and given primary responsibility for protecting children from child sexual assault:
* Parents, schools, child advocacy organizations, and youth groups need to work together in the development and dissemination of messages related to he protection of children from sexual assault;
* Government must give the unequivocal message that “it is not okay” to sexually assault children;
* Government undertakes appropriate measures against proven offenders;
We want commitments by our Federal government to ensure that child sexual assault is not ignored.
The Prevention of Child sexual Assault petition to Against Child Sexual Assault was written by Sylvie Bissinger and is in the category Children's Rights at GoPetition.