Vulnerable Children includes sex abuse victims

“The release of the Green Paper for vulnerable children by the Minister of Social Development is to be applauded as a start point for focusing more attention and resources on vulnerable children” says Alan Bell, Director of ECPAT Child ALERT. “New Zealand’s record of caring for children has become totally unacceptable and this discussion paper must lead to effective interventions.”

Mr Bell made this comment in relation to a conviction made from a Court hearing within the walls of the Christchurch Men’s Prison as reported by The Press yesterday. Shane Allan Harris, 39, already serving time for making and possessing child pornography, pleaded guilty to seven charges of indecent assault on girls aged under 12, two of having unlawful sexual connection with a girl under 12, four of doing an indecent act on girls under 12, and indecent assault, unlawful sexual connection, and rape of girls aged under 16. The former Sunday School teacher has admitted 16 serious sex offences against eight young girls, Harris has been remanded in custody.

“These children represent some of the most vulnerable within our society. And they are not isolated cases.” Mr Bell points to other current cases that add to a long list of child abuse offences. “On the same day the Dominion Post reported a Lower Hutt man charged after his activities led to abuse of children overseas. The 37-year-old will appear in the Lower Hutt District court today on a charge of possession of objectionable material, with further charges pending.”

Wellington District Field Crime Manager Detective Inspector Mike Johnson said an active investigation into the man began after an online investigation into his identity. Johnson cited research which showed 80 per cent of people who view online child exploitation go on to sexually abuse children at some point.

Bell goes further and says “On the very same day Radio New Zealand reported another conviction. Raymond Tusa, 39, appeared in Wellington District Court yesterday on five charges, including two of sexually violating a girl under 12. Tusa was one of six people charged over the serious abuse of the children in Porirua. Collectively, the six face at least 80 charges, including the rape and sexual violation of children, child cruelty and assault.”

The Manawatu Standard reported yet another case on the same day where the abuse was in the form of illegal child sex abuse images being accessed on the Internet. In the Palmerston North District Court yesterday, Jeffrey Martin Rowe, 24, was sentenced for twice downloading child-porn videos in his army barracks bedroom on October 12. He was downloading a package of porn that included the illegal images. Rowe was convicted and lost his job in the army. “This is not something children would do on a willing basis; they were being abused," Judge Ross said.

The Green Paper states “ We have to make a concerted effort to protect children from the lifetime of harm abuse can cause. Every child should be afforded the best opportunities this country has to offer and every child deserves to thrive, belong and achieve.”

“I sincerely hope that this becomes a reality for those children who are vulnerable to being sexually exploited” says Mr Bell. “If the process does not protect our children from sexual abuse then it has ignored one of the most horrendous crimes perpetrated against the most innocent.”

ECPAT Child ALERT is a registered charitable trust working to prevent the sexual exploitation of children including child prostitution, child pornography and child trafficking.

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