February 29, 2012:
By MICHELE M. BETTI | b&a opinions | https://bettiandassociates.com
Assemblywoman Margaret Markey held a press conference on February 28, 2012 in support of her Child Victims Act. At the conference she unveiled her plan to bring the Child Victims Act legislation before the Albany floor later this year. Her bill would open up a one year “window” to allow victims of child sexual abuse to obtain justice against the perpetrators who have abused them, and employers who sanctioned such abuse. Right now under the current NY statute a victim has until their 18 birthday + 3 years to bring a claim for negligence torts and/or Third-Party negligence.
Markey invited two of the alleged victims of coach Bernie Fine, former ball boys at the University of Syracuse, to speak at the press conference. Markey is counting on her colleagues to support the bill after hearing the stories of these abused men. She hopes hearing their stories will help draw support for the bill and encourage her colleagues to pass the one year “window.”
It is important for victims of child sexual abuse to speak out and share their stories. It not only helps with their healing process, but also encourages others who are being abused or were abused in the past to come forward.
The effects of child sexual abuse on young people is staggering. The horror, embarrassment, humiliation stays with an abuse victim for his or her entire life. Most of the time, the abuse suffered causes strain in a victim’s personal and professional life. Pedophile perpetrators steal a childhood away from their victim and usually don’t look back because they are too busy looking for the next child to manipulate and abuse.
Lifting the statute of limitations is important because victims of childhood abuse often cannot address the emotional damage they’ve suffered until decades later when they are well into their adulthood.
It is Markey’s hope to draw attention to abuse occurring in youth sports as well as keeping scrutiny on religious organizations where much abuse occurs. Many religious organizations have tried to block the “window” legislation from coming to the Albany floor, especially the Catholic Church.
It is our obligation as advocates for victims of clergy and non-clergy sex crimes to be protective stewards of children. We must keep up the pressure on organizations to make sure they are diligently protecting youth so that they do not become victims of child sexual abuse.
Copyright 2012, b&a opinions.
