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If you look at convictions you quickly arrive at the conclusion that all government action against abuse is there for other purposes. It just doesn't even targe
by candiodari 6y ago
If you look at convictions you quickly arrive at the conclusion that all government action against abuse is there for other purposes. It just doesn't even target the observed problems.
Most (just about half) child abuse is committed by other children (mostly slightly older than the victim). Almost always under government supervision (translation: at school/school related activities).
Half of what remains is committed BY the government (meaning teachers/trainers/social workers/... government employees). A significant portion of this kind of abuse is either very young or "almost adult" kids. These cases are special because of often one sees very large numbers of victims per perpetrator (it is absolutely exceptional for a pedophile outside of any institution to have even 3 victims, whereas institutional employees have seen cases with thousands of victims for ONE perpetrator).
You might wonder how one person even abuses thousands of children. In some cases government employees (ie. social workers, psychiatrists, ...) are found to abuse the power of the institutions they work for with the specific intention to abuse children. In one famous case, a German youth services therapist took that job, and climbed to director of an institution, to prove that both vulnerable children and pedophiles (including, of course, he himself) "benefit from being placed together". He implemented his experiment, not just placing children with himself, but also with pedophiles entrusted to him by the justice system, and managed to continue this practice ... for 30 years. He was in it, literally, to prove that child abuse benefits children. Hundreds, maybe thousands of victims.
If you look into "clergy" sex abuse scandals you will find that these also mostly happened at schools, school-related youth associations and in things like orphanages. And as we can see now, clergy has mostly disappeared, school employees haven't. The abuse also hasn't disappeared. People abuse children when they have access to children. Clergy used to have that, because they were school employees, and their profession attracted pedophiles because of that. Now other people, almost all government workers, have access to children, and abuse that access just the same.
For the remainder the largest groups is people the family knows that aren't related. Then strangers. Then relatively far or indirect relatives. And only then do we start seeing first foster siblings, foster parents, then "reconstituted family" siblings and parents (ie. legal, but not biological sibling/parents due to often multiple divorces and remarriage), and then as the least likely group natural parents.
You will never hear anyone discuss anything but the need to hide these to maintain the reputation of various institutions (from schools to CPC itself). Sometimes things like teachers' unions actively suggest ignoring kids complaints to protect teachers (e.g. against false accusations, or to avoid pointing out that CPC regularly CAUSES abuse of a child to start, not exactly what they're here for. And questioning the results of CPC "protection" for kids, even when well-intentioned, we don't seem capable as a society to admit that good intentions don't make for good results).
Anti-child abuse action invariable focuses on natural and reconstituted family parents, the least likely groups to abuse children. And going further, like acknowledging the many things that cause the abuse (like sexualization of youngsters in commercials and entertainment, even to youngsters themselves). Getting such groups to acknowledge the very big role of the government and various education and protection services play is just out of the question.
If you want to limit child abuse, the area of focus for maximum effect seems very clear: school. Both protecting kids from each other as well as from the staff and other government employees (including, perhaps even especially due to large number of victims per perpetrator, those whose job specifically is to protect children).
It seems it is very hard for people to believe that exactly children themselves and the people who we entrust children to are the biggest problem when it comes to child abuse. That, and of course that governments don't want to take clear measures against their own employees, even if they are the most likely child abusers. There are many sad cases where a perpetrator who is a teacher, sometimes with multiple previous convictions, succeeds in having child services go after parents after a complaint is filed. And of course, on occasion convicted child abusers are found to have taken jobs as for example a teacher or in youth mental care specifically with the intention to abuse children (even though it is pretty obvious that these people aren't in those jobs for the money).
- Zancarius 6y ago> the conclusion that all government action against abuse is there for other purposes. This has been my conclusion also. I'd broadly expand it to include any efforts to wage a "war against $PROBLEM" where it tends to either mask or make $PROBLEM worse. Or, in the case of sexual abuse, make it harder for victims to seek help. Or even know they can get help. Then it levies onerous requirements on otherwise law abiding services to do the government's policing in its stead making the companies arbiters of right and wrong. > He was in it, literally, to prove that child abuse benefits children. Good Lord, these people are sick! > For the remainder the largest groups is people the family knows that aren't related. This is what happened to my friend. It was someone whom they knew, and the family knew, who abused not only my friend but also everyone's trust. Since it also happened in a foreign country and my friend is American, it complicated matters. I don't know if they ever elucidated the outcome, but I gather there was never any legal action taken. What worries me about this, too, is the fact that the abuser apparently has a family of his own now, and without any legal repercussions, I would be concerned that he might abuse his own children or their friends for the reasons you highlight. > You will never hear anyone discuss anything but the need to hide these to maintain the reputation of various institutions So true. No one wants to admit that there's a problem, and they will actively attack the people trying to stop it from happening. > like sexualization of youngsters in commercials and entertainment This is despicable, too. What's even more disgusting and reprehensible is the efforts by certain groups and companies trying to normalize this! Because the latter often has deep pockets, getting the government to do anything about it is probably an effort in futility. > It seems it is very hard for people to believe I'm not sure why, except to reference your earlier remarks about institutions protecting institutions and deliberate, willful ignorance. It only seems logical that people who have access to children will therefore be the more likely to abuse said children. So, it seems that at least part of the onus on resolving this rests on society and bringing to light the reality that, just because a truth is uncomfortable, doesn't make it any less true. At the risk of drawing the ire of others, I have half a mind to suggest that sometimes an appropriate length of rope is the only solution. Edit: I meant to thank you for your thoughtful (and thought-provoking) post! I appreciate you for taking the time to reply.