“Child sexual abuse hides in secrecy and shame”: CO victim advocate reacts to proposed ballot measure failure
“Child sexual abuse hides in secrecy and shame”: CO victim advocate reacts to proposed ballot measure failure KKTV
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Colorado Senate Fails to Advance Measure to Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Abuse Cases
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Colorado voters will not get the chance to weigh in on how long survivors of child sexual abuse have to seek justice through the civil court system when they head to the polls in November.
The Senate failed to advance SCR-001, a measure that would have asked voters to give lawmakers the power to change the state constitution to eliminate the statute of limitations for civil claims of child sex abuse.
Needing 24 votes, the bill failed on strict party lines with all 23 Democrats voting for it and all 12 Republicans voting against it.
Disappointment in the Result
- Safe Passage executive director Maureen Basenberg expressed extreme disappointment in the result.
- She emphasized the need for trust in citizens to protect victims in the community.
- Basenberg argued that victims should have unlimited time to come forward, considering that only 12 percent of child sexual abuse cases are reported to authorities.
- She highlighted the challenges victims face, including threats from perpetrators and fear of retaliation.
Republican Senate Leadership’s Concerns
- Republican Senate Leadership released a statement expressing their condemnation of crimes against children.
- They argued that the measure would have significant consequences, potentially affecting constitutional rights such as legal certainty, reliance, finality of litigation, and due process.
Potential Passage in the House
- If the measure had passed the Senate, it would have required approval from lawmakers in the House and the governor.
- Democratic representative and sponsor Mike Weissman believed that House lawmakers would have supported SCR-001.
- Weissman stated that the goal was to align Colorado with other states in addressing limitations on access to justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Continuing Efforts for Justice
- Maureen Basenberg emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to ensure victims can seek justice.
- She suggested that continuing education in this field could help advance similar measures in the future.
- Weissman echoed Basenberg’s sentiment, expressing his commitment to advocating for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
SDG 5: Gender Equality |
|
No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions |
|
No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:
– 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.
– Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
– Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
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Source: kktv.com
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