Court decision sanctions child abuse - McVicar

21st October 2015

Judges decision sanctions child abuse and is a very sad day for New Zealand but an even sadder day for women and children says victims Trust.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust are disgusted that a Judge has ruled against naming a man convicted of sexually abusing children saying it would cause the man extreme hardship.

Trust National Spokesman, Garth McVicar said the Judges’ comments showed that New Zealand’s male dominated legal system was biased towards men and was in fact covering-up and sanctioning child abuse.

Justice Cameron Mander said the original Court made a mistake in allowing name suppression but that naming him now would be ‘disproportionate’ and cause ‘extreme hardship’ while the man’s lawyer, Jonathan Eaton, said it would be ‘grossly inappropriate and unfair’.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/73216282/abused-sisters-lose-high-court-bid-to-name-attacker.html

McVicar said those comments captured everything wrong about New Zealand’s male dominated justice system. “Here we have two men representing the so-called Justice System who are totally incapable of understanding the devastating and soul destroying effects of sexual abuse.”

“The effects of sexual abuse are eternal; they stay with the victim for life.”

McVicar said it is no wonder only an estimated 12% of sexual abuse is reported to the police. “Why would a victim report being sexually abused knowing they were going to be ostracised by the very system that is supposedly there to protect them?”

“This decision is a very sad day for New Zealand but an even sadder day for women and children.”

ENDS

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