Former model Nikki DuBose to share her sex abuse story with lawmakers as she advocates for Child Victims Act

By Glenn Blain
New York Daily News
January 04, 2017

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/model-nikki-dubose-rally-child-victims-act-article-1.2933390

Nikki DuBose is the featured speaker at a rally being planned by advocates for legislation that would change New York’s statute of limitations and make it easier for child sex abuse victims to obtain justice in state courts.

DuBose said she was sexually abused as a child by both her mother, who is now deceased, and a male family member who she declined to name because of possible legal ramifications.

ALBANY — Former model and sexual abuse victim Nikki DuBose is coming to the state Capitol on Wednesday with a message for state lawmakers — children need to be protected.

DuBose is the featured speaker at a rally being planned by advocates for legislation that would change New York’s statute of limitations and make it easier for child sex-abuse victims to obtain justice in state courts.

“We are talking about kids,” DuBose, 31, of Los Angeles, told the Daily News.

“Why is it OK for an innocent child to be sexually abused and to have his rights, his soul, his identity, his emotions, his life taken away from that very moment and for him to not receive justice?” DuBose continued. “Why is that OK?”

DuBose, who quit modeling four years ago and recently wrote a book about her experiences in the industry and her battles with addiction and mental illness, said she hopes her story of growing up in an abusive home and the sexual abuse she suffered as a model will help convince lawmakers the law needs to be changed.

“These are real things that happen that happen every single day,” DuBose said. “They happened to me. I can tell you it completely screwed up my life.”

The South Carolina native said she was sexually abused as a child by both her mother, who is now dead, and a male family member whom she declined to name because of possible legal ramifications.

That abuse, she said, traumatized her and made her more vulnerable to the sexual abuse she suffered as a model. DuBose began modeling at 16.

“I was raped as a model,” said DuBose, adding that she was too traumatized at the time to pursue charges against her attacker.

“When you are sexually abused as a child it desensitizes you,” she said. “You are more likely to put yourself in dangerous situations.”

DuBose said she was in her 20s when she finally came to grips with the abuse she suffered as a child, but it was too late to take legal action against the male family member who attacked her.

“If you look at the law, it does not protect children,” said DuBose, who now works with the Peaceful Hearts Foundation to combat childhood sexual abuse.

Peaceful Hearts is among the groups fighting in New York to adopt the Child Victims Act, which would extend or, in some versions, eliminate the time limit that a young abuse victim can bring a case against his or her attacker. Under current law, a person has until their 23rd birthday.

Advocates are also pushing for a one-year window to revive old cases, and treat public and private institutions the same. Currently, someone abused at a school or other public institution must file a notice of intent to sue within 90 days of the incident.

Senate Republicans and some legislative Democrats have opposed the idea of a one-year window to revive old cases, fearing it would spark a torrent of frivolous cases.

Despite a fervent campaign by The News and advocates last year, the legislation failed to win approval in either the Senate or Assembly.

Advocates are hoping for better results in 2017. Wednesday marks the official start of the Legislature’s annual session.

“We need to remind all our elected officials that this isn’t about politics, it’s not about parties, it’s about protecting children, not predators,” said Gary Greenberg, founder of the Fighting for Children Political Action Committee.