After report on educator sexual abuse, Mass. lawmaker says the time for change is now – WCVB

Legislative Efforts to Align with Sustainable Development Goals in Massachusetts

Addressing Gaps in Child Protection and Justice (SDG 16)

A significant legislative gap in Massachusetts law is under scrutiny for its failure to align with Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Specifically, the state is one of eleven where sexual contact between a teacher and a student aged 16 or older is not classified as a crime. This deficiency in the legal framework directly contravenes SDG Target 16.2, which calls to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.”

For the past decade, a bill aimed at closing this loophole has failed to pass the Massachusetts Legislature. State Senator Joan Lovely, a proponent of the bill, has sponsored legislation to amend the state’s age of consent law. The proposed change would criminalize sexual contact between minors of any age and individuals in a position of authority and trust, thereby strengthening institutional protections for vulnerable populations.

Ensuring Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments (SDG 4)

The current legal situation fundamentally undermines SDG 4 (Quality Education), particularly Target 4.a, which advocates for “safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.” The absence of legal protection against predatory behavior by authority figures creates an environment of fear and manipulation, which is incompatible with quality education. Testimonies from survivors have been presented to lawmakers since 2015, illustrating the severe impact on student well-being.

• Survivor Andrea Clemens described being manipulated by a teacher, stating she felt unable to refuse his advances due to the respect she was taught to have for educators, leading to an “aggressive, sexually abusive” situation where she felt terrified and voiceless.
• Survivors Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon reported that when they attempted to report their abuse by a teacher to the police, they were informed that no crime had been committed under current state law because they were 16 or older at the time.
• Survivor testimony highlighted that the legal loophole provides “cover” for predators, allowing them to prey on students with impunity for decades.

Upholding Rights and Eliminating Violence (SDG 5)

This legislative issue is also a critical concern under SDG 5 (Gender Equality), which includes Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls.” Sexual abuse is a form of gender-based violence that obstructs the goal of achieving equality and empowerment. The testimonies underscore a legal paradox, as noted by survivor Jen Falcone in 2015, where minors are deemed incapable of consenting to activities like voting or drinking alcohol but are legally expected to protect themselves from adult sexual predators in positions of power.

Call to Action and Path Forward

After a decade of legislative inaction, renewed attention from media and advocates is creating momentum for change. Senator Lovely, a survivor of child sexual abuse herself, has praised the “incredible courage” of those who have shared their stories and is urging the public to contact state legislators to demand action. The successful passage of this bill represents a crucial step for Massachusetts to fulfill its responsibilities under the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Public Advocacy: Increased public engagement is sought to pressure state representatives and senators to support the bill.
2. Legislative Process: Senator Lovely is confident the bill can be brought to a full vote in the Senate, though its passage in the House remains uncertain.
3. Executive Support: Governor Maura Healey has confirmed she will sign the bill into law if it reaches her desk.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article focuses on a failure of the legal system and legislative institutions in Massachusetts to protect children from sexual abuse. The 10-year struggle to pass a bill highlights weaknesses in the institution’s ability to enact laws that ensure justice and protect vulnerable populations. The core issue is about strengthening laws (rule of law) and ensuring institutions are responsive to the need to end violence against children.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article explicitly names several female survivors (Jen Falcone, Andrea Clemens, Melissa Fares, Hilary Simon) who have testified about their abuse. This highlights that sexual violence and exploitation, particularly in power-imbalanced relationships like teacher-student, disproportionately affect girls and women. The bill aims to close a legal loophole that leaves teenage girls vulnerable, thus addressing the elimination of violence against women and girls.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The abuse described occurs within the educational system, perpetrated by teachers and coaches—figures of authority in a learning environment. Such acts violate the fundamental principle of a safe learning environment, which is a prerequisite for quality education. The article discusses abuse at a junior high school and The Miss Hall’s School, directly linking the violence to educational settings.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Sexual abuse, as detailed in the survivors’ testimonies, causes severe psychological trauma (“I was terrified all the time, and I had no voice to say no”). Protecting children from such abuse is a critical preventative measure for ensuring long-term mental and physical health and well-being.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The entire article is centered on this target. It discusses the sexual abuse of students by teachers and the legislative effort to make this a crime, thereby directly addressing the need to end violence and abuse against children.
2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The article highlights a gap in the rule of law in Massachusetts, where sex between a teacher and a student aged 16 or older is not a crime. The proposed bill aims to strengthen the law to provide a path to justice for survivors who, as the article states, currently cannot get police to act.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The testimonies from female survivors detail sexual abuse and exploitation by male teachers. The proposed legislation is a direct measure to eliminate a specific form of violence and exploitation that victimizes teenage girls.

SDG 4: Quality Education

1. Target 4.A: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The abuse described makes the school environment unsafe and violent. The effort to pass the bill is a step towards ensuring that schools are safe environments where students are protected from predation by staff, which is essential for an effective learning environment.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Implied Indicator: Existence of legal frameworks that protect children from sexual violence. The article explicitly states that “Massachusetts is one of 11 states where it’s not a crime if the student is 16 years or older.” The passage or failure of the proposed bill serves as a direct measure of progress in establishing a comprehensive legal framework. This relates to Indicator 16.2.3: “Proportion of young women and men aged 18–29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18.”

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Implied Indicator: Proportion of states with legal frameworks to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. The bill sponsored by State Sen. Joan Lovely is a component of such a legal framework. Its status (not passed for 10 years) is an indicator of the challenges in implementing laws to protect girls from sexual violence. This relates to Indicator 5.2.1: “Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age.”

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Implied Indicator: Number of attacks on students and education personnel. The survivors’ testimonies are accounts of such attacks. While the article doesn’t provide statistics, the stories from Andrea Clemens, Melissa Fares, and Hilary Simon serve as qualitative evidence of the lack of safety in their educational environments. This relates to Indicator 4.a.2: “Percentage of schools with access to (a) electricity; (b) the Internet for pedagogical purposes; (c) computers for pedagogical purposes; (d) adapted infrastructure and materials for students with disabilities; (e) basic drinking water; (f) single-sex basic sanitation facilities; and (g) basic handwashing facilities (as per the WASH indicator definitions).”

Summary of Findings

Source: wcvb.com