Contact: Michael Polenberg, Safe Horizon’s VP Government Relations
t. 212-577-7735 | e. Michael.polenberg@safehorizon.org
Coalition to Pass the Child Victims Act Urges the Legislature to Enact Meaningful Statute of Limitation Reform this Year
Government Inaction Protects Pedophiles, Stalls Justice for Victims
March 1, 2017 (New York, NY) – The Coalition to Pass the Child Victims Act (CVA) will lobby members of the Legislature today to pass meaningful statute of limitation reform for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. New York currently ranks as one of the four worst states in the nation in this area of law. Survivors and advocates are urging our state to catch up to the rest of the country. We are currently in the company of Alabama and Mississippi.
The Coalition consists of more than 250 organizations and individuals including survivors, victim services groups, educators, medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement officials, and faith leaders.
The Coalition released a statement today saying, “It is unconscionable that abusers continue to escape justice due to New York’s antiquated and overly rigid statute of limitation laws. Far too many abusers have never had to answer for their heinous crimes committed against children.
Inaction protects pedophiles and protects institutions who covered up abuse. We urge the New York State Legislature to stand up for children and pass long-overdue statute of limitation reform without further delay.
We look forward to all parties coming to the table to pass legislation that opens the door to justice and holds offenders accountable.”
Michael Polenberg, Vice President of Government Affairs, Safe Horizon: “Safe Horizon, the nation’s leading victim assistance organization, strongly supports meaningful and impactful statute of limitation reform to increase avenues to justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. New York’s existing laws require most survivors to seek legal action before they turn 23, which in turns allows far too many child abuse offenders to simply run out the clock on being held accountable for their actions. We encourage the Governor and the legislature to join together to pass legislation that brings justice to survivors, holds offenders and institutions accountable, and puts New York squarely on the side of protecting children. Survivors rarely forget the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, and their pursuit of justice should not be barred because of New York’s overly restrictive time limits.”
Senator Brad Hoylman, Senate Bill sponsor: “New York’s statutes of limitations aren’t just a national embarrassment, they’re also a gross perversion of justice, denying survivors their day in court while allowing known abusers to hide in plain sight. The Republican Leadership needs to decide where it stands; they are on the side of abusers or of survivors. It’s imperative that the Senate bring this legislation to the floor for a vote and once and for all provide justice for the survivors of child sexual abuse.”
Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, Assembly bill sponsor: “Childhood victims of sexual abuse in New York State currently have no opportunity to pursue justice in cases of their own suffering at the hands of adults. I believe 2017 will be the year that the Legislature finally passes and the Governor signs this long-awaited and sorely needed act into law, both for survivors of these horrific abuses as well as to safeguard children in the future. I am proud to have the privilege to work alongside an incredible coalition of advocates to move this bill into law. We will overcome the resistance this bill has met in prior years to ensure that every victim has a fair opportunity to seek justice and be made whole in the courts.”
Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: “The Child Victims Act is a good bill that will help protect New Yorkers and it should be supported by all members of the New York State Senate. State government should protect our children and stand up for the victims of this heinous violation of trust. Justice must be served, and the Senate Democrats will keep up the fight to pass this essential legislation.”
Tamara Schoor, spokesperson for Kol v’Oz: “It is time for New York to join the ranks of other progressive States that have taken action in recent years to create meaningful reform of the Statute of Limitations on crimes of child sexual abuse. Kol v’Oz and the Jewish Coalition strongly believes in the need to revise current legislation to allow more victims the opportunity to pursue justice, achieve a measure of healing, and protect others. Progress has been made in lifting the veil of silence in the Jewish community but without the ability to hold perpetrators accountable and give a voice to those who are finally ready to speak, too much silence remains.”
Rabbi Ari Hart, Uri L’Tzedek: “The faith voice calling for change to our SOL laws is growing each day. Hundreds of clergy from across the denominational spectrum have expressed their support for the CVA. For too long faith communities have been part of the problem of child sexual abuse – we recognize that now it is time to start being part of the solution.”
Bridie Farrell, athlete and advocate, survivor: “The Senate Majority routinely sponsors and passes legislation to further punish convicted pedophiles and restrict everything from their employment to their housing options post release. However, they are also restricting us, the survivors of childhood sexual assault from identifying our abusers. They are denying us our day in court and they are protecting institutions who covered up abuse. I call on the Majority Leader to negotiate a final bill and let the Child Victims Act go to the floor this year.”
Nancy Lorence, Catholic Coalition of Conscience: “As Catholics and people of faith, we view this as a moral issue that we must confront in our religious institutions and in the society at large. Those who were abused sexually as children deserve justice for the great damage done to them. We call upon the NY Catholic Conference to stop lobbying against the Child Victims Act and stand for what is morally right: justice for those wronged in the past and greater protection for New York’s children going forward.“