March to offer hope for child abuse victims
Friday 24th April 2009, 2:57PM BST.
Organiser Carrie Modrel. Picture by Jon Guegan (00676027)
A PEACEFUL march on behalf of all victims of child abuse past and present will take place tomorrow, when white ribbons will be given out in town.
Organiser Carrie Modral, a member of the Jersey Care Leavers Association, has emphasised that the silent walk, which starts at the People’s Park at noon, is not a protest but a positive message that help is at hand for those suffering from child abuse.
‘We want people to know that whether they have suffered abuse in the past or are currently being abused, we know it takes place, we do care about the victims and will believe them,’ she said.
The route will be along the Parade and into King Street and Queen Street, finishing in the Royal Square, where the organisers will say a few words.
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I think this is an incredible gesture for those who have suffered and are still suffering!!
It shows them that there is somewhere they can go and get support if needed!! Two thumbs up for this march!!
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I was unfortunate enough to suffer from this as a yong child and a young adult, and actually find it insulting to be referred to as a “Victim”.
And walking around handing out ribbons isn’t going to solve anything.
Most of the time abused persons dont speak out out of the fear that they will be removed from their families instead of the abuser being locked up and having the key thrown away. And then being placed back into that environment because there is nothing that anyone can do because of lack of evidence.
This happens more ofter than not.
And I personally wouldn’t want the pity that people try and force on us. And I certainly will be staying away from town
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I have no issue with the march itself, but I also don’t like being classed as a victim. I know a number of people who were also abused as children (one has possibly the worst story I have ever heard from an abused person) but I could still never class any of them as victims. They are all successful in their own field and have raised very stable, loving children.
Since most abuse is from a close family member, someone you really trust, what is needed is education for children as to what form of touching is appropriate and what is not. This message needs to be got to children somehow, and needs to come from someone whose opinion they will take over that of the abuser themself (which if the abuser is a parent will make this job very tough).
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Child Abuse in Jersey is a closed book, like the Haute La Garrane home scandle, Jersey needs to accept that these sick people exist and need to do something about them, for the sake of the people affected by this behaviour. People who sweep this under the carpet are as much to blame as the sick people that commit this horrible offence.
I fully support the march and hope something positive can come from it.
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“Me” People who have been abused deal with it in their own way. Most people who have been abused, be it rape, sexual, physical, robbed are known as the “Victim” of an illegal act. It is indeed your choice to deal with it in the way you feel best for your own well being.
This is NOT about “pity” it is about Justice, accountability and empathy. It is not a political event.
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I agree with Hannah and I wish you all well on your march if that is the path you want to go down. The majority of the abused manage to find a path where upon they never forget however are in the knowledge that it happened, accept it happened because they have no other choice and then they move on. Those who are unable to move on should seek help from profesionals not a states member who is unquallified and working to his own agenda. A truely abused person is not out to seek revenge they want recovery.The sweetest form of revenge is success.
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I’m sorry but there would be no way I would march like that – I had enough people looking at me when it happened as they all assumed i was a liar at the time (until 10 years later when it was proven!) – why should i publically speak out again and say I was abused? What do they hope to achieve other than people looking on in pity and probably guilt?
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