Child victims of sexual abuse are usually
violated by people with whom they have an ongoing relationship. The above
usually occurs frequently and regularly over a long period of time during
which for various reasons children do not disclose. If the same number
of attacks had been committed, but on a different woman each time, we
would put the FBI on the case. The news media also would provide front
page coverage. The attacker, if convicted, would be incarcerated for a
long term. The public would be outraged. However Children are raped and
sexually assaulted by parents or other family members, neighbors, teachers,
acquaintances, or others. "These crimes are so heinous that effective
responses are often not made due to what can be termed "collective denial"
that people who otherwise seem 'normal' would do such horrible things
to children"
(From 1997 NY State bill number: A299)
cartoon used by permission
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