Child Sexual Abuse not an Emergency?

Currently, Representative Joyce Maker from Calais, ME is trying to pass a bill in the Maine Legislative Council. The bill:

To Create the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children.

This task force would study the best researched age-based appropriate curriculum for children pre-k through 5th grade. Rep. Maker has the hopes that I would be part of this task force.

The bill has been rejected at this time because council members believe that this is not an emergency matter. I don’t understand how the politics work and what is considered an emergency matter but along with many others, I have to disagree with their decision.

I did some math that for many would seem shocking but because I work closely with this crime I know the statistics like the back of my hand. It is not secret that this crime exists however, the secret remains within the victims who are afraid to speak out. This bill could help change that.

“One in every seven victims of sexual assault in under the age of six.”

In 2010 school year there were 85,181 children in K-5 in the state of Maine (which are the age groups this bill would be focused on).

In 2010 school year there were 44,573 in K-2 average the age of 6 years between these grades; using the statistic above roughly 6,368 children would be a victim of sexual assault.

Numbers are important in making the point; they put items into perspective. Another number is that 93% of juvenile victims know their abuser. People often believe that sexual abuse is a silent crime and should be dealt with in the family. What do you do when sexual abuse occurs within the family? Almost 50% of juvenile victims reported that their abusers were family members. My abuser was my father. What if members of this council didn’t know someone in their family was being abused? Would it be an emergency then?

There are so many points that could be made in support of this bill. Council members may consider these points opinions rather than facts but the fact is that this crime is everywhere. There is no one face to put on this crime; abusers are anyone and everyone. As we have seen in the media even those with a high profile status can take part in abusing. To those who abuse choose to do so but the victims of the abuse have no choice what so ever.

Children do not always understand, they will believe they are in the wrong. Abusers manipulate them to believe they are at fault. Education to children could help the believe the truth and the truth is they had no choice and that the crimes being committed to them are by no way their fault. Children need to know what is right and what is wrong. By not passing this bill you could be helping a child keep quiet, a secret that no child should have to keep, you are could be enabling them to do so.

By definition emergency is considered a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. I believe (and this is not an opinion but a
fact) by definition child sexual abuse is this. Not passing this bill you are allowing abusers more time to manipulate, coerce, and abuse! Children need to know they are being protected and isn’t that what we always talk about, protecting the future of this country, that can happen from protecting children who might be victims of abuse.


3 times more likely to suffer from depression.
6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.
26 times more likely to abuse drugs.
4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.

Does our society not put in tax dollars for programs that support all of these risk factors? By passing this bill you help save a child from going down this “wrong path in life.” Those children and adolescences who often participate in risky behaviors often have a past of abuse whether that be physical, emotional, or sexual; educating from the beginning could help at risk children to stop the abuse and heal from it before they believe they have no other options.

Child sexual abuse is something you might not be able to see but that does not mean it should not be declared an emergency. Many would consider child sexual abuse a silent epidemic. The members of this council have the opportunity to help break the silence of this epidemic and by not passing this bill they are contributing to the crime.

To any members who might read this; I ask you to reconsider your previous decision. As a survivor of child sexual abuse I believe you have a chance to make a difference in a child’s life and even if it is only one; children are like dominos and once one believes it is safe to come forward many others will follow. Children need to know. Education is the key to a lot of things and educating on our children on this crime could make a difference among our society.

This is something that could be continued forever, I believe I have made points for members to consider that are important. This is an emergency. Every 2 minutes someone is being abused in the United States. If you do not believe that it is, you need to become educated and I believe you will change your mind. You have the opportunity to save a child.