Calling All Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
If you are a survivor of child sexual abused, you are invited to a News Media Event - Calling for State and National Laws Lifting Statute of Limitations of Survivor Lawsuits
Event Sponsored by:
Professor Marci Hamilton
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law - Yeshiva University
When:
September 25, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Where:
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law - Yeshiva University
Jacob Burns Moot Court Room
55 Fifth Ave (at 12th Street ) New York City, NY
You must rsvp to lawpr@yu.edu or call 212-790-0237.
This news media event is a Call To Action on the National Grassroots movement for "Window" Legislation to retroactively suspend the statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse damage claims so that civil suits can be filed regardless of how long ago the sex crime against a child had occurred.
Speakers Include:
If you are planning to attend the Event:
It is estimated that one in five boys and one in four girls in America are victims of childhood sexual abuse. Most of the perpetrators are known by the victims. But, far too many of these crimes go unreported for many years – only 10 percent of victims go to authorities – and most of the offenders escape responsibility. When victims finally – and courageously – speak up, they are denied justice as arbitrary statutes of limitations prohibit them from seeking legal recourse.
Two states – California in 2003 and Delaware in 2007, led by Sen. Peterson – have enacted legislation that amends these arbitrary deadlines to enable both criminal prosecutions and civil actions against the perpetrators. In California, "window" legislation, which suspended the civil limitation, helped identify 300 previously anonymous predators and enabled victims to seek justice again them. For the past several years, Assemblywoman Markey has introduced similar legislation in New York. It has passed in the Assembly, but has stalled each time in the Senate.
Event Sponsored by:
Professor Marci Hamilton
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law - Yeshiva University
When:
September 25, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Where:
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law - Yeshiva University
Jacob Burns Moot Court Room
55 Fifth Ave (at 12th Street ) New York City, NY
You must rsvp to lawpr@yu.edu or call 212-790-0237.
This news media event is a Call To Action on the National Grassroots movement for "Window" Legislation to retroactively suspend the statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse damage claims so that civil suits can be filed regardless of how long ago the sex crime against a child had occurred.
Speakers Include:
- NY State Assemblywoman, Marge Markey - Sponsor of "Window Bill" in New York.
- Delaware Sen. Karen Peterson - Primary Sponsor of "Window Bill" in Delaware.
- Professor Marci Hamilton - Law Professor and Victims' Legal Advisor, will talk about the growing national grassroots movement for legislation and her recent book that details the need for such legislation and identifies its rather surprising opponents.
- Survivor Matt Conaty will tell why he worked hard to get legislation passed in his state.
- Barbara Blaine, MSW, JD, - National President, Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests (SNAP).
- Vicki Polin, MA, NCC, LCPC - Executive Director, The Awareness Center (Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault), will address why legislation is needed for the millions of Americans who are survivors of incest.
- New York survivors will speak about the need for similar legislation in NY.
If you are planning to attend the Event:
- You must rsvp to lawpr@yu.edu or call 212-790-0237.
- Bring a photograph of you at the age you were when your abuse began -- to hold up. It's helpful if you can enlarge the photo to the size of 8" x 11" piece of paper.
It is estimated that one in five boys and one in four girls in America are victims of childhood sexual abuse. Most of the perpetrators are known by the victims. But, far too many of these crimes go unreported for many years – only 10 percent of victims go to authorities – and most of the offenders escape responsibility. When victims finally – and courageously – speak up, they are denied justice as arbitrary statutes of limitations prohibit them from seeking legal recourse.
Two states – California in 2003 and Delaware in 2007, led by Sen. Peterson – have enacted legislation that amends these arbitrary deadlines to enable both criminal prosecutions and civil actions against the perpetrators. In California, "window" legislation, which suspended the civil limitation, helped identify 300 previously anonymous predators and enabled victims to seek justice again them. For the past several years, Assemblywoman Markey has introduced similar legislation in New York. It has passed in the Assembly, but has stalled each time in the Senate.
posted by Jewish Survivors at Wednesday, September 19, 2007
2 Comments:
This sounds very interesting. I wish I could attend.
ReGAIN Network (www.regainnetwork.org) fully supports the efforts of all survivors of abuse in any religion or cult to find justice and to stop the abusers from continuing to abuse, to break the law, and to hide behind organized religion.
The power of the abuser lies in his or her manipulation of systems to go undetected and unpunished. If there is a loophole, an abuser will use it to abuse more.
Glenn Favreau
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