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Scout leader jailed for sex abuse

Felicity Caldwell

March 28, 2011 - 7:39AM

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A scout leader who molested a teenage girl during a “sex ed” lesson and repeatedly abused his stepchildren will be behind bars until 2021.
The man, aged in his 50s, has admitted a catalogue of sickening sexual offences against his stepdaughter, two stepsons and a female scout.
Ipswich District Court heard the man molested the 14-year-old scout, a friend of his stepson, in September 2008 in front of the boy – telling him he would teach him how to please a girl.

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A month later he took her to the scout den where he again molested the girl.
Crown prosecutor Clayton Wallis said the man had used the girl as “some sort of teaching aide... of what to do with girls when he was older”.

sexual abuse awareness

The Role of Professionals and concerned citizens

 

Professionals and concerned citizens play a critical role in stopping elder abuse and neglect. Learn more about the roles that members of the following groups play and the resources available to them.

• Adult protective service workers are the "front line" workers in elder abuse prevention. APS programs are designated as the primary agencies in most states to receive and investigate reports.
• Professionals in the field of aging are often the first to discover abuse. For that reason, they provide a critical link between victims and protective service. They can provide encouragement and support to victims as they seek help and they can play an important role in educating other professionals about the special needs of the elderly.
• Health and medical professionals play a key role in the identification and treatment of abuse. The trust and respect that patients often have for their health care providers places these professionals in a key position to help.
• Law enforcement personnel ensure victims' safety and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
• Researchers provide insight into the etiology, incidence, and risk factors associated with abuse - information that is critical in designing effective interventions and services.
• The media plays a fundamental role in educating the public and shaping its perceptions about abuse. It can enlist the public's help in identifying abuse, educate policy makers about the need for improved services and public policy, direct victims to needed services, and warn abusers about the consequences of their actions.
• Concerned citizens can play a vital role in preventing abuse by reporting cases, helping to raise awareness about the problem, volunteering at agencies, and advocating for needed services and policy.

Penan Women/girl

v. Sexual abuse against Penan women by workers of logging companies

As the Penan communities have been struggling to prevent destruction of their ancestral lands by logging firms, their womenfolk are being victimised by timber company workers in the various settlements within the companies’ operation areas. In particular, there have been allegations that the Penan women including schoolgirls in the Middle Baram area of Sarawak were sexually abused “on a regular basis” by the workers hired by Malaysian logging companies Interhill and Samling. Swiss-based NGO, Bruno Manser Fund, which conducted a research on the sexual violence against the Penan women, alleged that the company workers based in logging camps usually frequented, in a drunken condition, in the Penan settlements looking for women. The Penan women were so terrified that they fled into the forests when they heard sound of vehicles approaching. The situation becomes the worst during the school holidays when students return home to spend their vacation.[16]

The young school girls have been more vulnerable to sexual abuse by the company workers who would take advantage of the disadvantaged positions of the Penans. As the schools are far away from the Penan villages, the schoolchildren have to either walk for several hours or take vehicles to reach the schools. But the Penans are poor and cannot afford vehicles for their children. Hence, they depended on the companies’ vehicles to ferry their children to schools. The Penan girls have become vulnerable as the company workers would often arranged the transportation in such a way that schoolgirls had to stay overnight at a logging camp, where they were abused. Bruno Manser Fund further reported that there had been several incidents of pregnancy among the Penan women and girls due to the abuses and that the logging workers also carried arms to intimidate the Penan community.[17] In 2007, a 16-year-old student from Long Kawi, a settlement in the Middle Baram, became pregnant after being raped while returning to her boarding school. The victim was raped in the logging camp when taking transportation provided by companies to go to her school SMK Long Lama.[18]

On 6 October 2008, The Star reported that “interviews conducted in settlements in the Middle Baram area in northern Sarawak, revealed that several students had become victims of rapes by logging workers.[19]
No perpetrator has been brought to justice. The Penan community leaders alleged that while complaints to the company managers did not work, the police also failed to take any action against the perpetrators. In October 2008, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has reportedly set up a task force to investigate allegations of sexual abuse against Penan women and girls in Sarawak.[20] The Royal Malaysian Police is presently investigating into alleged cases of sexual abuse.

But there is little international concern over the continuous struggle waged by the indigenous peoples of Sarawak for survival as a result of exploitation of the indigenous peoples and their resources by the logging companies and other business enterprises in the state of Sarawak. The lack of insensitivity has been poignantly demonstrated by England when it recently conferred honorary Knighthood to Tiong Hiew King, the founder of the Rimbunan Hijau Group which has been responsible for destruction of the livelihood of the Penans in Sarawak by its logging activities.

when man become victims

When Male Becomes Victim – A Case Report
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 11 (2) July – December 2010: XX XX
This is a case report describing how a
mentally disabled boy became a victim of
sexual molestation.

Case Report
MH is a 14 year old Malay boy diagnosed
with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
ADHD and Mental Retardation from the age
of 7 years. His impulsivity was not well
controlled with medication due to non
compliance. He was brought to UKMMC in
January 2009 at the age of 14 after being
sexually molested by an Indonesian male,
who often sold food around his housing
area. His mother was working that time and
he was left alone, as usual in his house,
when the incident occurred.
According to an eye witness, the man was
seen masturbating the victim near his house.
The neighbour subsequently reported the
incident to patient’s mother who later lodged
a police report and brought patient to
hospital for further evaluation.
The victim was noted to be traumatized and
he refused to give any information regarding
the incident. In the hospital, the patient was
unable to give relevant history due to his
communication difficulties. He also refused
physical examination thus examination
under  anaesthesia (EUA) had to be carried
out with parental consent. It revealed no
evidence of anal injuries or abnormalities.
The child was referred to a child
psychologist for psycho education (“safe
touch”). Due to lack of evidence of the
abuse, the perpetrator was not charged.
Patient’s parents were also not keen to lodge
a police report as they found the experience
humiliating and felt strongly that it to should
be kept a secret.  The patient has not been
brought for follow up since the first visit.
Discussion
Any male child may become a victim of
sexual abuse. However, studies have found
that boys at highest risk of sexual abuse are
those younger than thirteen years of age, of
low socioeconomic status, not living with
their fathers and who are  disabled. Family
factors such as living with only one parent,
parental divorce or separation and parental
alcohol abuse or criminal behaviour also
contribute to the increase risk of abuse [2].
In the above case, the risk factors identified
were a teenager with mental retardation, low
socioeconomic status and lack of parental
supervision.
Children with disabilities are found to be 4
to 10 times more vulnerable to sexual abuse
compared to non disabled children (National
Resource Center on  Child Sexual Abuse,
1992). Having physical disabilities and co
morbidities such as mental retardation and
ADHD places them at higher risk for abuse
[3]. This could be due to multiple reasons,
such as inability to differentiate between
normal behaviour and abusive behaviour,
difficulties in reporting due to lack of
communication skills, difficulty in being
educated regarding sexuality issues due to
their learning disability and impaired
judgement in differentiating ‘safe’ and
‘unsafe’ environments and persons. The
tendency to show affectionate behaviours to
others (for example in mental retardation),
also placed them as an easy target for abuse.
In this case, as the perpetrator was partially
known to the victim, it was easier for the
perpetrator to coax the victim to cooperate
in the abusive act. As shown in the above
scenario, there is a high probability that the
abuse would not be detected if there was no
eyewitness to the incident.

this is the reason why we should take it seriously

cases

43 years' jail, rotan for pimping, sexual abuse

Friday, 23 November 2007 08:12am

©New Straits Times (Used by permission) by Jason Gerald John MALACCA: A 32-year-old man will spend 43 years in jail for offences including procuring a 14-year-old girl for purposes of prostitution and causing miscarriage without the girl's consent. Baharudin Sidek, from Air Paabas in Alor Gajah, was also ordered by the Sessions Court yesterday to be given 20 strokes of the rotan and fined RM50,000. He pleaded guilty to four charges, one under the Child Act and three under the Penal Code. The charges were: - procuring the Form two girl for purposes of prostitution; - causing miscarriage without the girl's consent; - living on the earnings of the prostitution of another person; and - inserting an object into the girl's vagina without her consent. The offences were committed at a house in Taman Hilir in Ujong Pasir here between July and Sept 8. For procuring the girl for purposes of prostitution Baharudin was sentenced to 10 years' jail, while for causing miscarriage he was sentenced to eight years' jail and fined RM20,000 or two years' jail. He was sentenced to 15 years' jail and 10 strokes of the rotan for living on immoral earnings and 10 years' jail, 10 strokes and RM30,000 fine or two years' jail for inserting an object into the girl's vagina. Baharudin, unemployed, has skin cancer and is a HIV carrier. He was first charged at Ward C3 of the Melaka General Hospital on Sept 24 as he was admitted to the hospital. Baharudin's girlfriend, Norshapinah Mohamad, 22, from Paya Rumput, jointly faced with him two of the charges -- procuring the girl for prostitution and causing miscarriage without the girl's consent. She was also charged with living on the earnings of the prostitution. She claimed trial to all the charges. Judge Kamaruddin Kamsun fixed Jan 23 and 24 for hearing.

Common Myths about the Sexual Abuse of Boys and Men

---

Preconceptions abound about the sexual abuse of boys and men. Some of the most common of these myths include:

• Men cannot be sexually abused.
• Women do not abuse sexually.
• Sexual abuse is always overt.
• Sexual abuse turns a boy gay.
• Sexually abused boys almost inevitably become sexually abusive men.
• Victimizers are always conscious of the abuse they are committing.
• Male victimizers who molest boys consider themselves homosexual and are sexually interested in other men.
• If you have allowed abuse, then you are a sissy or a weakling.
• Children can always say no to abuse if violence is not used. If they don’t, they must have wanted the abuse to occur.
• If a boy becomes sexually aroused, he is an equal participant in the abuse

Each of these myths reverberates for sexually abused boys and men, raising painful questions and suffusing deep shame. Yet none of them are true. Along with other preconceptions, they have all been refuted by an expanding body of literature about boyhood sexual victimization. In the coming months, Doctor Gartner will explore each of these myths further.
©2007 Richard Gartner
Statistics

PRECAUTIONS

LET'S BE RESPONSIBLE

                                                             Are we so selfish like this?

PREVENT YOURSELF FROM BEING A VICTIM

this is not the solution

this is not the solution

Together we prevent this!

make them believe

mostly the victims does'nt want to share their problems because they are afraid nobody will believe them. at the same time, they do not know who want to listen. so,give them hope..let them know there are people who they can trust such as police.

love and tender

when the only thing they ask is love and tenderness

we are their only hope

usually these victims will remains silent because of traumatic experienced
and they will choose to solve it by themselves ecspecially when the predators are the person they knew or trust
so.we have to build trust in order to make them talk
be friends and be a good listener
because sometimes..we are the only person they have

punish them

feeling like kicking those criminals by myself...haiyaaa!!!

how long can we remains silent?

together we prevent

Sexual abuse effects on children and youth can be evident in emotional, physical and behavioural ways. These effects can be just as devastating whether there was only one occurrence or there were repeated occurrences. Sexual abuse cannot be compared, because each abuse experience is unique.

Vulnerability Factors:

Children are vulnerable to sexual abuse because of their age, sizeand innocence. When a child or youth is molested, she/he learns that adults cannot be trusted for care and protection: well-being is disregarded, and there is a lack of support and protection. These lead to grief, depression, extreme dependency, inability to judge trustworthiness in others, mistrust, anger and hostility. And as if all that isn't enough, children's bodies often respond to the sexual abuse, bringing on shame and guilt.

Points to consider:

»  Children/youth are unable to protect themselves and stop the abuse.
»  Children/youth are susceptible to force.
»  Children/youth are susceptible to the use of trickery by offenders.
»  Often times, children/youth have no control over their own bodies.
»  All too often, children/youth are unable to make others believe them.

The above factors lead to:

»  anxiety
»  fear
»  shame
»  a sense of inadequacy
»  the need to control situations and others
»  a perception of self as victim
»  identification with the aggressor

Factors That Influence Sexual Abuse Effects Miraculously, not all children or youth molestation victims display signs that something is wrong. FACT:  Between 21% and 36% of sexually abused children will display few or no symptoms (Oates, O'Toole, Lynch, Stern & Cooney, 19941). Why do some victims display a multitude of emotional and behavioural effects, while others display few or none? In spite of few or no outward symptoms, child and youth victims do suffer emotionally. These emotional effects come in varying degrees, depending on the following six factors:   The nature of the relationship between the victim and the offender: the closer the emotional relationship, the greater the emotional trauma.   The age of the child when the abuse began and the duration of the sexual relationship: an ongoing sexual relationship with repeated contacts is generally more traumatic and usually produces more sexual abuse effects than a single contact.   The type of sexual activity the victim is exposed to: sexual acts involving strictly non-contact sexual abuse appears less traumatic than sexual acts that involve contact. It is important to note, however, that trauma and the sexual abuse effects are still very real when any type of sexual abuse occurs. For an excellent discussion written by Colette Dowling, M.S.W. about sexual abuse in school girls, check out www.womens-wellbeing-and-mental-health.com. Colette is an internationally renown lecturer and author of eight books, including her best-sellerThe Cinderella Complex, which has been in print for 25 years.   The degree of physical aggression directed at the victim:violence adds to the trauma of the abuse. Being physically abused, having a mother who is mentally ill, not having someone to confide in, and being socially isolated are significant predictors for childhood sexual abuse (Fleming, Mullen & Bammer, 19972).   The response the victim receives when she/he discloses the abuse: healing is apparent when a disclosure is met with compassion and is followed with effective intervention; if the victim is met with skepticism and accusations, anger, or no response at all when she/he discloses, the sexual abuse effects are compounded.   The availability of a supportive person in the victim's life:a caring, loving, nurturing, and listening person in the victim's life lessens the trauma; a lack of a supportive person intensifies the abuse and leaves the victim feeling even more lonely, helpless, and unworthy.

Emotional and Physical Sexual Abuse Effects:

Molested children suffer many losses, including:

  self-esteem and self-worth

  trust

  childhood, including the opportunity to play and learn

  the opportunity for normal growth and development

  intimacy

  control over his/her body

  normal loving and nurturing

  safety and security

Behavioural Sexual Abuse Effects:

  nightmares, phobias, and regressive behaviours such as thumb-sucking and bed-wetting

  learning problems

  clinging and smothering

  insecurity, which put the child at risk for further abuse and exploitation

  psychosomatic complaints such as stomachaches and headaches

  precocious sexual activity--a young child knows more than they should about sexual activity; child may exhibit seductive behaviour

FACT:  17% of abused children exhibit age inappropriate sexual behaviour (Trocme & Wolfe, 2001, p.28³).

FACT:  Of the sexual abuse effects exhibited, sexualized behaviour is the most consistent indicator of sexual abuse (Cavanagh Johnson et. al., 1995, pp.50-51⁴).

  with young children, a preoccupation with sexual organs of self, parents and others--often this shows itself in language and art

  aggression and bullying behaviours

FACT:  14% of abused children exhibit behaviour problems (Trocme & Wolfe, 2001, p.28⁵).

  sudden changes in eating and/or sleeping habits

  depression and anxiety

FACT:  29% of abuse children exhibit depression or anxiety (Trocme & Wolfe, 2001, p.28⁶).

  refusal to change clothes in front of others

  isolation

  obsessively good behaviour

  obsessed with cleanliness

  relationship problems

FACT:  13% of abused children exhibit negative peer involvement (Trocme & Wolfe, 2001, p.28⁷).

  anti-social behaviour

  unwillingness to participate in social activities

  running away

FACT:  85% of runaways in Toronto have been sexually abused(Conference on Child Victimization & Child Offending, 2000⁸).

  truancy / long absence from school

FACT:  10% of abused children have irregular school attendance (Trocme & Wolfe, 2001, p.28⁹).

  long absence from participation in extracurricular activities

  dissociation--a child's existence is dependent on his/her ability to separate from the pain, which, in the most repulsive cases, may result in multiple personalities

  risky behaviours such as firestarting, stealing and other delinquencies

  animal cruelty

  alcohol and drug abuse

FACT:  According to the Conference on Child Victimization & Child Offending (2000¹⁰), sexual abuse effects on children with a history of molestation reflect that they are seven times more likely to become drug/alcohol dependent

FACT:  In a sexual abuse effects study of 938 adolescents admitted to residential, therapeutic communities for the treatment of substance abuse and related disorders, 64% of the girls and 24% of the boys reported histories of sexual abuse (Hawke, Jainchill, & DeLeon, 2000, pp.35-47¹¹).

  dysfunctional relationships

  avoiding confrontation

  self-harm, including cutting and burning

  paranoid behaviour

FACT:  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the sexual abuse effects that plague sexually abused children and adult survivors of child abuse. Symptoms experienced are similar to those experienced by Vietnam veterans and may include sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression, which negatively impact on their daily psychosocial functioning and for which many seek professional help (Wiehe, 1998, p.50¹²).

  preoccupation with sex

  promiscuous behaviour

  compulsive and aggressive sexual behaviours

  self-destructive sexual behaviour and prostitution

FACT:  98% of female street youth in British Columbia reported being victims of physical or sexual abuse as compared to 32% of female youths in schools. 59% of male street youth reported being victims of physical or sexual abuse as compared to 15% of male youth in schools (Beauvais et al., 2001, p.62¹³).

  in adulthood, sexual dysfunction--avoidance of or phobic reactions to sexual intimacy

  becomes the abuser

FACT:  Studies done by Haywood, Kravitz, Wasyliw, Goldberg and Cavanaugh in 1996 reflect some disturbing sexual abuse effects. The study found that the odds of becoming a child molester were 5.43 times greater for adult male victims of childhood sexual abuse than for adult male non-victims (Lee, Jackson, Pattison, & Ward, 2002, p.88¹⁴).

  attempted and completed suicide

FACT:  Children with a history of sexual molestation are ten times more likely to attempt suicide (Conference on Child Victimization & Child Offending, 2000¹⁵).

Sexual abuse effects on the child or youth are connected to the child/youth's life before, during and after the sexual contact. We must understand that the effects apply every bit as much to the disclosure and intervention as it does to the abuse itself. Sexual abuse effects continue long after the abuse stops.