AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
May 12, 2016
Lisa Flynn
We commend the Palaszczuk government for the steps it has taken to address the archaic time limits that currently prevent survivors of historic child abuse from accessing justice through the civil courts.
This week, it indicated for the very first time that it was open to changing the state time limitation laws for victims of child sexual abuse.
It’s vital that these conversations continue, and that words are converted into action, action that ensures that no further abuse survivors are denied access to justice for crimes committed against them in their childhood.
I have represented hundreds of these courageous men and women, and have been fortunate enough to sit with them, and hear their stories. I’ve listened to them describe their fear; of speaking out, of not being believed, of being ignored or blamed. This fear kept them silent.
They have learnt how to bury their words; a lesson that often led them towards a path of distrust, reinforced by troubled relationships, violence, and substance abuse. They have learnt to block out the memories, and it would be decades before they could finally bring themselves to release the words, and speak of the abuse they suffered.
The delay in a survivor speaking coming forward is well recognised by experts, and has been the subject of much discussion, and recommendation from the current Royal Commission into the Institutional Responses to Childhood Sexual Abuse.
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