Pictured is the son of a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. He is proud to support his mother’s efforts to hold abusers accountable.

June 25, 2018

Unfortunately, the 2018 New York State legislative session has ended and the Child Victims Act did not pass this term. We are deeply disappointed with this outcome.

For over a decade, survivors, and advocates traveled to Albany to plead with lawmakers for a basic, fundamental right: to hold their abusers accountable in a court of law. Every day, every week, they advocated to change New York law so abusers can be held accountable for what they did. They not only wanted justice for themselves, but they were trying to protect our children today. These survivors deserve justice and for the New York Senate to pass the Child Victims Act.

This year, Senate Republicans have failed to hold even a single hearing on the Child Victims Act, a bill that passed with by an overwhelming bi-partisan majority in the State Assembly. In their inaction, the Senate leadership failed to broaden the path to justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and his conference continue to protect institutions from liability instead of aligning with survivors seeking justice.

At Safe Horizon, we are committed to seeing the Child Victims Act passed. We continue to vigorously oppose arbitrary time limits that allow abusers to run out the clock. We remain committed to advocating for this legislation during the 2019 New York State legislative session. The Child Victims Act must be brought to a vote by the Senate and ultimately passed.

Learn more about The Child Victims Act.

Outraged and want to take action?  Tweet New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo and let him know you support survivors and want to see the Child Victims Act passed.

Suggested tweet: .@NYGovCuomo I am disappointed that the Child Victims Act was not passed this year. During this #MeToo movement, you must strengthen laws for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. I call on you to pass the CVA next year–survivors deserve more time to seek justice in NY’s courts.