Stop Demand

SEXUAL VIOLENCE law reform: New Zealand

On the cusp of Stop Demand writing to all 123 MPs seeking a ban on judges considering good character when sentencing child s*x offenders - with the written endorsement of 12 other highly-respected organisations that work to prevent s*xual violence and assist victim-survivors - the New Zealand Prime Minister made this announcement today. Fantastic! But ... words are one thing; action and follow-up is what we demand! This should NOT be a politicised issue - "if we get voted back in" - but an important law reform matter that resonates with, and has the support of, all six political parties.

National to ban judges from considering good character when sentencing s*x offenders 'No s*xual offender is a person of good character. Period,' Christopher Luxon said.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE law reform: Australia

Big congrats to NSW (and its Attorney-General Michael Daley MP ) for bringing about this vital law change that resonates with every right-thinking human being - abolishing the right of convicted s*x offenders to claim they are a person of 'good character' for the sole purpose of securing a sentence reduction. Yep - that final 'kick in the guts' to victims in an already gruelling Court process. And kudos to Harrison and Jarad at for their tireless campaigning.
We urge New Zealand to follow!

'An absolute victory': Good character evidence scrapped in NSW A survivor advocate behind the campaign calling for good character references to be abolished in sentencing perpetrators of s*xual offences has described the NSW reform as "an absolute victory".

SEXUAL VIOLENCE: Global

The month of April - Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) - might be ending. But the devastation to lives, forever altered, never ends.

In time of peace -
"The s*xual abuse of children is the genocide of childhood innocence. Victims are robbed not only of their childhood, but of the person they truly could have become." - Renee, in**st survivor and blogger.

And in times of war -
"When it comes to war, women and girls are subject to s*xual torture, s*xual slavery, military r**e, mutilation and other extremely violent acts... For the women who survive, it is often a 'living death'... All in all, it is beyond devastating." - Anthropologist and blogger Miss Wretched.

LAW CHANGE: New Zealand

What a pleasure to be invited to Survivors 4 Survivors Otautahi
To work with and support male survivors of s*xual abuse, one on one and as a peer support group.
Many of our survivors have come from State and faith-based 'care'. The peer support group originated in Christchurch in 1991 by fellow survivor Iain Bennett who started MSSAT (Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust) in 1997.

Facilitated by Kenneth Clearwater and Hanz freller KSM

The power of peer group work and support is priceless for so many survivors,thankyou again for allowing me in this space 🙏

Sign the petition to remove good character references for s*x offenders.

https://petitions.parliament.nz/cf986021-083d-40b6-a30f-08dd63dfe70d?fbclid=PAb21jcANaeaJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpwpsRLljLi43nJ3KdGj3A-UsBYXUo8m4BalcmRM-P9m9CWoFAL1ZRZR51P90_aem_TPWZLDU16MSVsvyQhZy4Tw&lang=en

petitions.parliament.nz Petitions are addressed to the House of Representatives and ask that the House do something about a policy or law, or put right a local or private concern.