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For Survivors
The Journey Home: a Resource Book for Women Who Have Experienced Childhood Sexual Abuse

Legal Information
Brochures available for download:
What To Do When Your Child Is In Care
Reporting Sexual Assault

Community Resources
Contact Information for emergency, shelters, health, legal, housing resources
Community Resources

Sensitive Practice
Sensitive Practice Guidelines
Handbook on Sensitive Practice for Health Care Practitioners: Lessons from Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Research Links
ACTS Project
The A.C.T.S (Action and Change Team for and by Survivors) project grew out of conversations between survivors about problems they faced finding employment, accessing job training, obtaining income support for education programs, and qualifying for the financial support they needed while in the healing process.
ACTS

PAR Project
The cost of insured health care services for the 12 survivors was 4.1 times the population average after adjusting for age and gender. The average annual cost of publicly funded health care expenditures per survivor was $4,387 as compared to $1,081 for the population average.
P.A.R. Report: - The Cost of Providing Health Services to Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Health Transition Fund
The Health Transition Fund Research was funded by Health Canada. The
study was to determine whether or not complementary care therapies delivered in a community based organization were useful to survivors of child sexual abuse.
Health Transition Fund

Research History
Research History

Did you know - the origins of International Women’s Day go back to the labour conflicts of the early 20th century. With advanced industrialization, the workforce expanded by the thousands and workers’ rights soon rose to the forefront of social issues.

International Women’s Day Timeline: adapted from Factsheet

1908
15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman’s Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February.

1909
In the fall of 1909, garment workers, mostly young, single immigrant women, participated in small walkouts, but their grievances went unaddressed. In November a general strike was called and other workers walked out of garment industry shops in Manhattan and elsewhere. The strike came to be known as the “Uprising of the Twenty Thousand” although the numbers may have swelled to as many as 40,000.

1910
At the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen 1910, Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of an International Women’s Day. Her idea included a celebration to be held yearly on the same day and in every country. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women’s clubs accepted Zetkin’s suggestion unanimously. The result was International Women’s Day.

1911
International Women’s Day was observed for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights. On March 25th, a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City caused the death of over 140 garment workers, most of them immigrant women. The fire drew attention to appalling working conditions and led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards. These became a focus of subsequent International Women’s Day events.

1913-1914
Following discussions, International Women’s Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since. In 1914 women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women’s solidarity.

1917
In response to the death of over 2 million Russian soldiers in war, Russian women began a strike for “bread and peace” on the last Sunday in February. The strike continued for four more days until the Czar’s abdication. The provisional government granted women the right to vote. Lenin declared March 8th a national Soviet holiday, honouring women’s contributions in the war effort.

1975
1975 was designated as International Women’s Year’ by the United Nations.

2000 and beyond
International Women’s Day (IWD) continues to grow as a globally-recognized day of recognition and celebration. IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Younger generations may feel that the battle is over but memories are all too real for many women who lived through the struggle. Despite advancement in all areas of life, the battle for equality is far from over. Women are still not represented equally in the seats of power, experience more poverty and are still subjected to sexual violence and oppression. Girls are still treated as lesser value or as simple commodities in many countries around the world.

But IWD also serves to remind us that great strides have been made. There are women in all professions, from fire fighters to prime ministers. More opportunities for women exist now than our grandmothers could ever have imagined.

It is also a time to reflect on relationships with other women – both positive and negative. Although some may not want to acknowledge the phenomenon, it is true that women are not always benign to other members of their sex. Before condemning, criticizing or disparaging a woman you don’t even know, try putting yourself in her place and honour her experience. She is someone’s wife, mother, sister, and daughter, aunt and has the same feelings and hopes for her life as we all do. How much further could women aspire if they were truly supportive of one another?

So as we observe the day, pay tribute and remember the achievements of the women who participated in the struggles and honour the work that is still taking place today.

Thousands of events are being held all over the world; check out what’s going on

Post your tributes to inspirational women: CBC

Kellie recalls that, “a typical day would be my mother saying to go wake up Andrew. I would go wake him up and then he’d make me have sex with him – he’d rape me. It was very disturbing to get raped before school because you feel disgusting, you feel gross and I hated that.” (Oprah show, February 8, 2011)

From the time the girls were in kindergarten, they recall their older brother Andrew began molesting them. By the time he was in the fifth grade, he was forcing intercourse on them.

“The abuse stated with fondling, “recounted Kellie, “and progressed to having to perform oral sex on him and him doing the same to us. There were times when he would play porn on the TV and we would have to perform the same thing that was going on. He also sodomized me which was very painful.”
(Oprah show, February 8, 2011)

When the girls were in the fifth grade, they were being raped on a daily basis, their other brother Matthew now joining in the abuse. The girls complained repeatedly to their mother Lisa but she tuned it all out and refused to acknowledge what was happening, even ignoring a rape taking place right in front of her.

Lisa now acknowledges her part in the abuse, “They’ve tried to tell me over the years and I’ve just blocked it out or didn’t want to hear or didn’t want to listen or didn’t think it was going to happen or didn’t think it was real. When I found out, I was sick, I was horrified. Looking back I missed everything. I can’t forgive myself – I mean how could you? I’ll always carry that guilt around. I want my girls to know that I love them – that I’m sorry.”
(Oprah show, February 8, 2011)

The brothers would come for the twins in the night, placing a hand over their mouths for silence. The girls were often so desperate for a reprieve they would urge the boys to take the other sister and thus betray each other.

As Kathie remembers, “There would be times when we would be in the same room and he could be abusing either Kellie or I. I just didn’t like seeing fear in my sister’s eyes. I mean there could be times when she’s being raped, she’s looking “you” and her eyes were like “help me”.
(Oprah show, February 8, 2011)

Besides the physical and sexual abuse at home, the Henderson children were often hungry and neglected. The girls’ only escape was at the home of their neighbors, Jim and Shelly, where they could eat and play like normal children until they had to go home. The twins spent hours at the neighbor house, “going over to their house, felt like heaven in a way” the girls observed. According to Shelley,” the girls did not give any hint that something was wrong at home.”

Finally, Lisa confronted her husband Brad with her suspicions about the abuse. The father’s reaction was to beat his sons for abusing the sisters. He then made the girls “show him” how the brothers had abused them and then proceeded to force himself on them as well.

During a fifth grade sex education presentation, the girls became aware that something was seriously awry in their household. They assumed that all families had sex with each other and this is what all families did. The girls were prisoners in their own home; they could not have friends over, participate in activities or simply enjoy their own childhoods. They were denied money, friendships with others and even food. Their older brother Andrew would routinely threaten them, beat them with his fists or drag them to the basement.

In 2003, when the girls were 12, the father Brad left the household. Their mother Lisa was left nearly destitute, with no electricity, money or food. She was forced to take a job that kept her away from home much of the time. Before departing, the father raped Kathie one more time and gave her $100. (Promise Not to Tell, Part 1, Wichita Eagle, December 11th, 2010)

In 2005, their father’s sister Jennifer came to Wichita. Told by Brad about the abuse, she vowed to intervene when she was able to save up enough money to come to Wichita. Together the aunt and girls went to the neighbor house where the children had been always been welcomed and safe. The girls disclosed the abuse to Shelley who was understandably horrified and angry. Immediately she wanted to call 911 but the girls begged her not to tell until they had a chance to talk with Lisa, the mother.

The girls also feared reprisals from Andrew for their disclosure. The neighbors, Shelly and her husband Jim waited for two days but then decided they had to act. It was March 23rd, 2005 when Shelly made the fateful 911 call.

When first confronted by police in their home, the girls denied there was anything going on but eventually broke down and admitted the abuse. Lt. Jeff Gilmore, a 9 year veteran of the Wichita Police Department, remarked that “this, without a doubt, is the most horrendous sexual abuse case that I’ve ever worked.” (Oprah show, February 8th, 2011)

Upon searching the Henderson home, the police found a basement which looked like a dungeon with sprayed over windows walls and walls painted black. The basement reeked of latrine from an old green trash can that had been used as a toilet. In the middle of the floor lay a stained dirty twin-sized mattress. Andrew lived in the basement.

During interviews with police, the twins gradually revealed the entire sickening story about Andrew, the other brother Matthew and the father. The 12 year old younger sister also revealed that she had been abused and what she disclosed to a police officer was so appalling that he did not believe it at first. The children also revealed that the nine year old brother had also been beaten by Andrew and his friends. “Andrew was just this big strong angry person, he wasn’t a brother at all – he was a monster.” (Oprah show, February 8th, 2011)

A police officer interviewing Andrew asked him why he raped his sisters. He gave them an answer the detectives never forgot.
“Well,” he said. “It’s legal in Alabama.”
(Promise Not to Tell, Part 2, Wichita Eagle, December 11, 2010)

Within 48 hours, both Andrew and Matthew were taken into custody. Five days after that, Brad, the twins’ father, was also behind bars. He was eventually convicted of three counts of rape, one count of aggravated sodomy and will not be eligible for parole until 2028. Andrew received the same sentence and will be 43 years old if released. Following her sons’ and husband’s arrests, Lisa was convicted of three counts of endangering a child. She spent nine days in jail and two months in a work-release program. Matthew received a lighter sentence, mostly because he’d not forced sodomy, and had not beat up the girls as much as Andrew. He would be eligible for parole in 2012. (Promise Not to Tell, Part 3, Wichita Eagle, December 11, 2010)

The twins and their younger siblings started new lives with a foster family in a small farming community in north western Kansas. Unfortunately, the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation gave their little brother the choice of remaining in foster care, or going back to Lisa in Wichita. He went back to live with their mother.

Currently Kellie is a student at a community college and working part-time. She is determined to find a career helping others, perhaps in social work or psychology. Kellie is also determined to speak out publicly about abuse and help other victims recover.
(Promise Not to Tell, Part 3, Wichita Eagle, December 11, 2010)

Kathie Henderson did not fare as well as her twin. Depressed after a series of personal problems, she left her home in Clay Center, two hours north of Wichita. She brought all her possessions, a pack of cigarettes and garbage bag of clothes and returned to Wichita to the haven of neighbor Shelley’s house.

To everyone’s bewilderment, Shelly began to reach out to Lisa the mother and also to Andrew in prison. Speaking with Shelly from jail, Andrew was asked what he would say to his sisters if he had a chance. Andrew read from a letter to his sisters:

“On the day you two were born I looked you in the eyes and said you are my sisters and I will love and protect you from everything. I am sorry I have broken my first promise to you both. I will never be able to feel what you feel. My actions caused our family to be torn apart. I don’t expect a simple “I’m sorry” will make everything better. But I am sorry and I love you with all my heart. I now understand I have lost your trust quite possibly your love. I’m pleading for your forgiveness.”

Shelley also received a call from Matthew, the other brother from jail:
“I wish I had reported it when it first happened. You’re supposed to be able to trust your family and look what we did to them, you know. We should have been there for them and we weren’t. “(Oprah show, February 8th, 2010)

At the end of the interview Oprah emphasized her now classic definition of forgiveness: “giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.” She urged them to adopt this course,” so you don’t hold on to wishing that you’d had a different kind of brother, a different kind of father, a different kind of family. You let that go and move forward with the grace God has given you from this day on.”

Oprah also emphasized that “I want for you not to have the spirit of you killed because of what your brother and your father did to you.”

Her final advice to the Henderson twins and the viewing audience is stark but unfortunate reality, “Child rape epidemic in America doesn’t end until we are all willing to do what these young girls have done – to put our uncles, our brothers, our husbands and our own fathers in jail. If you are being abused there is only one thing you can do – find one person you can trust and tell them. “

Survivors of child sexual abuse have experienced overwhelming feelings of powerlessness, shame and guilt. When they were children, survivors were unable to prevent the abuse inflicted on them by those who were more powerful. Being vulnerable, they experienced a violation of boundaries and their right to say “No” was denied. Because the sexual abuse denied survivors control over their own bodies controlling food intake can seem like the only thing that they can control. A survivor may often come to despise her own body.

Clinical Eating Disorders include:
Anorexia Nervosa –characterized by the pursuit of thinness through strict dieting which leads to drastic weight loss. This obsession with being thin is accompanied by an equally intense fear of becoming fat.

Bulimia Nervosa –characterized by a strong desire to be thin and accompanied by frequent episodes of binge eating. Individuals feel out of control when bingeing and try to rid or purge their bodies of the food they have eaten through vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise, extreme dieting or fasting.

Binge Eating – An eating disorder characterized by binge eating, but without the extreme behaviours designed to control body shape and weight e.g. dieting, exercising etc. that is present in bulimia nervosa. Binges feel out of control and individuals frequently experience feelings of depression, disgust and guilt post-binge.

Unspecified Eating Disorders – a mix of anorexia, and/or bulimia, and/or binge-eating symptoms, but who don’t fall into one of the medical categories

Some warning signs of Eating Disorders include:

• Extreme obsession with weight and shape
• Distorted body image
• Obsession with food and dieting
• Evidence of binge eating
• Hoarding food
• Abnormal weight losses or fluctuations
• Denial of hunger or existence of a problem
• Overuse of laxatives, emetics, diuretics or diet pills
• Extreme exercising or dieting
• Unusual eating habits or rituals
• All or nothing thinking (“If I could be thinner, I would be perfect”)
• Feelings of low worth and oversensitivity to criticism
• Social withdrawal
• Mood swings and irritability
• Inability to identify or cope with feelings
• Perfectionism
• Depression

Eating Disorders Awareness Week – February 6th – 12th

Help and Resources:
National Eating Disorder Information Centre
Bridgepoint Centre
Saskatoon Mental Health and Addiction Services

]]> http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/not-about-the-food/feed/ 0 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/february-updates/ http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/february-updates/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:45:36 +0000 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/?p=714 ]]> February is nearly here and much as we’d like to deep six winter, we’re stuck with it for awhile yet according to the calendar. (Let’s face it, it just wouldn’t be Saskatchewan without complaining about the weather!) We have programs that will educate, entertain and help get you out of those dreary winter days that seems to be the way of things in Saskatoon.

Highlights:
Story Telling will continue on Monday evenings from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Our attendance has been growing and the speakers have been fascinating with a great line-up still to come. Come and learn about traditional First Nations cultures. For more information:

Star Blanket Making workshops will be held on Fridays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. throughout February. This is your chance to learn how to make the beautiful morning star symbol. Contact Kelly P. to register 683-8667 For more information:

Workshops co-sponsored by Tamara’s House and Mental Health and Addiction Services will be held in February, with Intake interviews to be held February 8th and 9th. Schedule for workshops:

• Tuesday, February 15th – Responses of Trauma
• Tuesday, February 22nd – Boundaries
• Monday, February 28th- Moving Beyond Shame

Groups will be held 1p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Tamara’s House.
For more information call Pam at 665-8877 or Megan at Tamara’s House 683-8667

Monthly Community Workshop
Eating Disorders Awareness week – Kelly W. will be facilitating a workshop Wednesday, February 9th 1:30 p.m. in the Drop-in , Eating Disorders and Child Sexual Abuse. Come for Share Our Soup and stay for the presentation.

We are pleased to announce that we will be offering Complementary Care (Reiki and Aroma Massage) starting in February. Appointments are scheduled for Tuesday mornings and priority will be given to our residents. They may be opportunities for service users on a limited basis.
For more information contact 683-8667

Download our newsletter:

]]> http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/february-updates/feed/ 0 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/like-a-puppet-on-strings%e2%80%a6/ http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/like-a-puppet-on-strings%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:56:54 +0000 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/?p=708 ]]> Imagine being a puppet on strings – that can be what life is like on a daily basis for survivors of child sexual abuse. The abuser is the puppeteer, enforcing silence while violating the trust, body, mind and spirit of the survivor.

As the consequences of sexual abuse take hold later on in life, the survivor’s health issues can become the puppeteer. Consequences of untreated child sexual abuse may include such physical issues such as ulcers, migraines, frequent infections, eating problems, weight problems, hatred of the body to emotional issues such as fears, phobias, feelings of anxiety, and suicidal thoughts to mental issues such as psychiatric disorders, psychosis, and dissociation. Survivors of CSA may face many barriers, to developing healthy relationships, completing an education, keeping a job or basically functioning from day to day. CSA survivors are heavy users of health care. This translates into an extremely high drain on both human and financial resources in the health care system.

Due to a lack of knowledge of Child Sexual Abuse, the health care system often treats the symptoms rather than the underlying problem. If the treatments don’t work the survivor may blame themselves for the way they feel.

“My family spent thousands of dollars taking me to specialists, paying for medications, and caring for me when I was unable to work or go to school. My flashbacks were misdiagnosed as partial complex epilepsy, resulting in the loss of my driver’s license and job.”

Some of the negative consequences of health care services reported by survivors included failure of health care providers to detect CSA which may have led to a diagnosis which overlooked the underlying cause, excessive use of psychotropic drugs, and continued fragmentation of various helping systems including health care, social services, and justice.

“I’ve told health care workers in the past about some of my dilemmas and been laughed at. They didn’t seem to believe the severity of my case or didn’t know how to handle it.”

“I have flashbacks – relive the abuse in hospital and they say they are delusions. I need someone who knows the difference.”

Considering a history of sexual abuse is an essential part of providing quality health care. For a survivor, the health care providers’ response to disclosure of CSA is critical to have a profound effect on her healing journey. See our website for Guidelines for Sensitive Practice

(From “I couldn’t speak so my Body spoke for me,” a brochure for health care
professionals on providing sensitive care to survivors of child sexual abuse.
This brochure was developed with survivors of CSA as part of the Participatory
Action Research (PAR) Project.)

For a copy of the report see the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence web site
I Couldn’t Say Anything So My Body Tried To Speak For Me:

Handbook on Sensitive Practice for Health Professionals: Lessons from Adult
Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse – Public Health Agency Canada

]]> http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/like-a-puppet-on-strings%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/hookers-a-documentary/ http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/hookers-a-documentary/#comments Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:30:59 +0000 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/?p=702 ]]> “Hookers. a documentary” Tuesday January 11!

Lights, Camera, Action! is hosting its first film “Hookers. a documentary” on Tuesday, January 11th at 7:00 p.m. in Arts 241, University of Saskatchewan.
Join us and others (including filmmaker Marcel Petit and a representative from Tamara’s House) for the film and discussion . Everyone is welcome!

For further information:

]]> http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/hookers-a-documentary/feed/ 0 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/thank-you-to-cupcake-conspiracy/ http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/thank-you-to-cupcake-conspiracy/#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:40:37 +0000 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/?p=693 ]]> Tamara’s House is delighted to be included in the first ever Cupcake Conspiracy Calendar. The calendar is packed with information, Flavors of the week, holidays, special days, unique photos and other interesting items. Each month is also dedicated to a local charity. (Tamara’s House is November, 2011) $5 from the sale of each calendar will be donated to the Princess Shop, a non-profit organization serving the young women of Saskatchewan.

Tamara’s House has 10 copies available at $15.00 each. You may also purchase a calendar at the Cupcake Conspiracy bakery located in downtown Saskatoon #4 – 157 2nd Ave N. in the King George building. The calendars sell for $15.00 plus GST.

The Cupcake Conspiracy is a peanut and tree nut free cupcake bakery in Saskatoon. The cupcakes are baked from scratch every morning utilizing as many local and sustainable ingredients as possible. Beginning as a home-based business in spring 2009, demand for the delicious cupcakes expanded and the storefront location opened in the King George building in fall 2009.

Tamara’s House would like to thank Christin and Kim of Cupcake Conspiracy for including Tamara’s House in this beautiful calendar and wonderful opportunity. If you haven’t already, visit the bakery and check out the flavour of the week. With names like Moon Landing and the Corporate Monkey, there is sure to be a cupcake suited for every taste and imagination!

Check out the website:
Cupcake Conspiracy

]]> http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/thank-you-to-cupcake-conspiracy/feed/ 0 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/another-year-over/ http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/another-year-over/#comments Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:00:11 +0000 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/?p=688 ]]> Another year has nearly drawn to a close bringing with it much reflection and looking back over the old year. 2010 will be remembered as a year of changes and transitions at Tamara’s House but we are looking forward to 2011, seeing old friends and welcoming new ones. We are thankful we had the opportunity to share your healing journeys.

Season’s Greetings to all our service users, volunteers, and the community.

Our January newsletter is now available, check out our new and on-going programs.
Some highlights:
Story-Telling will continue on Monday evenings and we’re excited to let you know that speakers confirmed for the new year include Sylvia McAdam, Darryl Chamakese, and Maria Campbell. For more information see our website, and join us for this wonderful opportunity to gain knowledge and support on your healing journey.

Workshops co-sponsored by Tamara’s House and Mental Health and Addiction Services will be held in February, with Intake interviews to be held February 8 and 9. Topics include Responses of Trauma, Boundaries, and Moving Beyond Shame. For more information contact Kelly P. at 683-8667.

And don’t forget Share Our Soup, held every Wednesday at noon – join our community of delightful women for good food and good conversation. It’s a great way to keep warm!

Happy Holidays!

]]> http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/another-year-over/feed/ 0 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/project-sanctuary/ http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/project-sanctuary/#comments Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:23:08 +0000 tamarashouse http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/?p=673 ]]> What does an ex Anglican priest, university professor, former British Special Forces soldier and a clown have in common? They were among a group of 25 Canadian men arrested for child pornography offenses during a recent 14 month global investigation.

The investigation, Project Sanctuary, wrapped up in early December and resulted in the arrest of 57 men worldwide and a total of 218 charges. In total 26 men in the United States face 56 charges, six men in Europe face 31 charges, and 25 men in Canada, face 131 charges. The men are from all over Canada, including 10 from Ontario, three from British Columbia, two Albertans, two from Saskatchewan and one from Newfoundland and Labrador. At least one of the accused is from Quebec. (Calgary Herald, December 11, 2010)

This investigation began after police traced a child pornography site to Rev. Robin Barrett, 51, a former Anglican priest from Conception Bay South, near St. John’s, Newfoundland. After raiding his house, police seized massive amounts of child pornography on Barrett’s computer and on discs. In all, they found 3,451 video files and 31,460 illegal images. (CBC news, September 2010) For this, he was sentenced to 2 ½ years in a penitentiary. Barrett was the first person charged as part of the investigation that police dubbed Project Sanctuary.

The arrests that began in 2009 are the result of work by 13 law enforcement agencies, including Toronto police, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and German police. All the men arrested are alleged to be part of the same network. (CBC news, December 8th, 2010) Police described the network as trading child pornography like hockey cards.

Toronto Police, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other security agencies, helped rescue 25 children, 12 of whom are in Canada, 10 in the United States, and three in Europe. Toronto Police Det.-Const. Janelle Blackadar said the youngest child rescued from Ottawa was four years old, among the youngest of the 25 children rescued worldwide. (Ottawa Citizen, December 9th, 2010)

According to a study last year by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, Canada ranked second behind the U.S. in terms of the number of commercial porn sites featuring children. Child pornography is a permanent record of the abuse of a child. It can be an image, an audio recording, a video, a drawing or a story about the sexual assault of a child. It is created deliberately and can be shared easily through the internet, on-line platforms and portable technology devices.

In contrast to the United States where the penalties for child porn offenses can be up to life, Canada’s legislated maximum penalty for the worst child porn offenses is 10 years.
The Criminal Code makes it is an offense to:

• possess any child pornography
• make, print, publish or possess for the purpose of publication any child pornography
• import, distribute, sell or possess for the purpose of distribution of sale any child pornography

For each case, child pornography is: an indictable offense, for which any offender is liable to imprisonment for a term up to five or ten years, depending on the offense; or an offense punishable on summary conviction.

It is a sad testament to internet technology that the images of the children will continue to be traded and displayed, akin to being abused over and over again. These children have had their childhoods taken away from them in the cruelest manner possible. The efforts of law enforcement are exemplary but they face an uphill battle. The most vulnerable among us need our protection, even if this means shutting down child exploitation rings one network at a time.

]]> http://tamarashouse.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/project-sanctuary/feed/ 0 tamarashouse