Paedophilia, Prevention rather than “Cure” is the title of this discussion recorded on the second anniversary of the publication of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry.
It was also the
date of the launching of the second Jersey Redress Scheme for people who as
children were abused or suffered harm between 1945 and the end of 2005 in
places such as Les Chenes secure residential unit.
Jill Garcia – the former Secretary of
the Jersey Care Leavers Association
Alan Collins – a UK lawyer who
represents many of those who have been abused
Neil McMurray – A long-time anti-child
abuse campaigner
Mike Dun – is the interviewing voice
behind the camera who blogs as “Tom Gruchy”
But, we think that
it is part of a wider discussion that should take place because the abuse of
children is clearly a subject that is not going away without some very positive
action.
Child abuse is not
a simple subject and does not always include sexual abuse.
Sex abuse of
children and paedophile are just aspects of a complex web of interlinked
problems that can include such as violence, neglect, poverty, mental illness,
marriage breakdown and failures of child care services.
There are
(according to an FOI answer in 2018) 83 persons on the “Sex Offenders Register”
and 18 of these have left the Island.
It means that a
child – in some cases many children – have already experienced abuse before the
perpetrator is removed from society.
Obviously the aim
should be to prevent the abuse happening at all.
We do not know how
this can be done but recognize that capturing and convicting potential abusers
before they commit sexual offences is effective, especially in a small
community such as Jersey.
Similarly, we do
not know what punishment or treatment can be effective or acceptable to prevent
convicted offenders committing further acts of abuse if released from prison or
other forms of detention.
There are many
other matters that could be discussed and we would hope that further informed
examination of the issues will take place.
We invite others
with an interest in this whole subject to make contact and we especially want
to record further video discussions to broaden knowledge and understanding.
Contributions from
those who do not want to be identified in the video recordings will be
considered and all communications will be treated as confidential.
