Western Bulldogs to pay $5.9m to child sexual abuse victim over paedophile access

Western Bulldogs to pay $5.9m to child sexual abuse victim over paedophile access  The Guardian

Western Bulldogs to pay $5.9m to child sexual abuse victim over paedophile access




An Australian Rules Football Club Found Negligent in Child Sexual Abuse Case

An Australian rules football club will pay out almost $6m to a child sexual abuse victim after it was found negligent in giving a paedophile special access to the boy.

A supreme court civil jury on Thursday delivered its verdict against the Western Bulldogs over the abuse of Adam Kneale at the hands of a club fundraiser, following a four-week trial.

When asked whether the football club’s negligence caused Kneale’s injuries, the foreperson said: “Yes.”

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
  2. Goal 5: Gender Equality
  3. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
  4. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The jury of six determined Kneale should be paid out $5,943,151 for pain and suffering, loss of earnings and medical-related expenses.

Kneale hugged his supporters in court after hearing the verdict.

He was the victim of a years-long campaign of sexual abuse at the hands of Graeme Hobbs, known as “Chops”, who trained under-19s at Footscray Football Club and was a prolific volunteer fundraiser for the club.

Kneale was aged 11 when the “jack of all trades” Hobbs first raped him at an administration building at the club’s home ground in 1984.

Kneale brought the action to court as he said the football club was vicariously liable for his abuse because it gave Hobbs special access.

He sought aggravated damages after the club didn’t reach out to him when his abuse became public, a failure he says left him with no closure after everything that happened on its grounds.

The Western Bulldogs had denied it knew about the offending.


SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

    • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
    • Indicator: Number of cases and legal actions related to child sexual abuse and negligence
  2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

    • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children
    • Indicator: Number of court cases and verdicts related to child sexual abuse and negligence

Analysis

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The article discusses the case of a child sexual abuse victim who was abused by a club fundraiser. This highlights the issue of violence against women and girls, as the victim was a young boy. SDG 5 aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in both public and private spheres.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article mentions that the football club was found negligent in giving the paedophile special access to the victim. This raises concerns about child protection and the need for strong institutions to prevent abuse and ensure justice. SDG 16 aims to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children.

The specific targets under these SDGs that can be identified based on the article’s content are:

Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres

The case of child sexual abuse discussed in the article is an example of violence against a young boy, highlighting the need to address this issue.

Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children

The article highlights the abuse suffered by the victim at the hands of a club fundraiser, emphasizing the importance of ending such abuse and ensuring justice for children.

The indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:

Indicator: Number of cases and legal actions related to child sexual abuse and negligence

The article mentions that a civil jury delivered its verdict against the football club, indicating that legal actions are being taken to address the issue. The number of such cases and legal actions can serve as an indicator of progress towards the targets.

Indicator: Number of court cases and verdicts related to child sexual abuse and negligence

The article mentions that a jury determined the compensation amount for the victim, indicating that court cases and verdicts are being pursued. The number of court cases and verdicts related to child sexual abuse and negligence can be used as an indicator of progress towards the targets.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 5: Gender Equality Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres Number of cases and legal actions related to child sexual abuse and negligence
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children Number of court cases and verdicts related to child sexual abuse and negligence

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: theguardian.com

 

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