Justice

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Talking about it, getting it out, off my chest, off my mind, interaction with the police. I know that the abusers have been questioned and charged. I find that stimulating in a way to know that justice has been carried out.'

Strong feelings on how the community and the legal system should deal with abusers were expressed by some survivors. A few had pursued prosecution through the court and others expressed the need for increased awareness of the problem coupled with appropriate punishment for the perpetrator.

Perpetrators taking responsibility for their actions and demonstrating that they wanted to stop offending, was seen as a major step towards stopping the abuse continuing.

Without intervention by the police and/or the court, perpetrators are unlikely to request the help they need in order to change their behaviour. It is therefore important that adults act if they believe a child is at risk. This will protect not only the child concerned but other children with whom the perpetrator may come into contact in the future.

Police were a great help. People can't say that the law is not doing enough because the law only have a certain avenue. You give them the information and they have to work on what you give them so the more you give them the more they can investigate.'

Forced education by victims, where victims get up and say "you've ruined my life" or "you (as in sexual abusers) have had major effects, I am going to get up there and tell you about it and I am going to continue to tell you about it that you will want to curl up in a corner and cry for a week.'

I don't know how you handle them. If you leave them out in the community they are likely to offend again.'

I don't think you can rehabilitate them.'

A kid needs to see justice when he's young because he is not going to believe it and then it will be worse for him when he gets older. There has to be some sort of justice there.'

I made a commitment to see it right the way through. I will not back out. He committed a crime and he can go down for it.'

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