Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program: Policy Proposal and Analysis

This report presents a policy proposal addressing child sexual abuse, examining its impact and the need for effective prevention strategies. It begins by defining child sexual abuse and outlining the issue's historical context, highlighting the involvement of family members and the challenges in reporting. The report then discusses the organizational interest of the Australian Childhood Foundation in supporting victims and implementing preventive programs. It evaluates pre-existing policies and laws, noting their limitations and the need for updated approaches. The core of the report focuses on policy options, including longest sentence time periods, offender registration, and community reintegration and supervision. An assessment of each option's advantages and disadvantages is provided. The report recommends community reintegration and supervision as the preferred approach, advocating for government-led initiatives to educate offenders, provide support, and facilitate their successful re-entry into society. It emphasizes the importance of a multi-faceted approach involving education, support for victims, and international collaboration to combat child sexual abuse effectively. References from various sources are provided to support the arguments and research findings presented in the report.

Policy Proposal

Executive Summary
Involving in sexual activity with the minor is what is stated as child sexual abuse. The effect on
victim last for years affecting his mind and body; therefore, a perpetrator who is involved in such
activity is committing an offensive crime. Only physical contact between a child and perpetrator
will be stated as child sexual abuse but it can also occur in other forms (Rainn, 2016).
Regardless of many policies and laws like child protection policy formed against these abuses
activity, it is yet to be controlled. Most of the time, this activity is conducted by the known
person which makes it even more difficult for the parents to spot the child suffering from sexual
abusive behaviour.

Table of Contents
Statement of Issue.......................................................................................................................................4
Background of Issue....................................................................................................................................4
Statement of Organizational Interest in Issue.............................................................................................5
Pre-Existing Policy........................................................................................................................................5
Policy Option...............................................................................................................................................6
Assessment of Policy Action........................................................................................................................7
Recommendation........................................................................................................................................8
References.................................................................................................................................................11

Statement of Issue
The government should design child sexual abuse prevention program which would educate
children and parents to deal with the issue.
Background of Issue
Throughout history, the problem of child sexual abuse has been prominent. Until 1960, child
sexual abuse is not identified widely and the society would accept most of the time the condition,
but the most threatening thing was that the family members are often involved in these activities.
Therefore, acknowledging sexual abuse could create a threat to the family which may be one of
the reasons that child sexual abuse is in most of the cases kept secret (McGuire and London,
2017).
To prevent the occurrence of child sexual abuse, there is need to educate the victim as well as the
community to prevent the occurrence of such events. It is the responsibility of the society to
stand against such issues. It is essential to evaluate any program as it could measure its success
which is yet to be done in Australia. A true experiment is needed to be done which would be
regarded as a rigorous evaluation. A national approach for child protection was studied at
Australian Institute of family studies (AIFS). Along with this various other measures have also
been taken by the Commonwealth responsibility to fund the programs and initiatives undertaken
to protect child sexual abuse (Philips, 2009).
In protecting children, stronger families and community strategy are some of the programs
started under commonwealth responsibility. For monitoring and preventing child abuse, more

systematic and National approaches have been adopted by the Australian government in this
respect and as a result of its involvement; more awareness was created against this social issue.
The government of New South Wales has removed the time limit on legal claims made by the
victim. This was done due to the reason that it takes years for the victim to overcome the trauma;
therefore, limiting time period would not be a good way (Gerathy, 2015). Although the
maximum penalty in such case is lifetime imprisonment and it has 98.4% access, but for
ascertaining punishment it is important to identify certain factors like the age of victim, type of
sexual intercourse and the relationship of victim with the offender which are ascertained and
based on factors. The average term of punishment is increased when the penalty is also increased
and if victim is under 4 years the punishment is for the longest term period (NSW, 2015).
Statement of Organizational Interest in Issue
Children devastated by family negligence or violence and who are victims of abusive activity are
supported by Australian Childhood Foundation which is a non-profit organization. This
organization not only support the victim but also conduct preventive program, educate children
and parents, provide counselling and therapeutic care, conduct research activities and provide
encouragement too.Their vision is to provide a loved and safe childhood to all children, which is
their right (Australian Childhood Foundation, 2015).
Pre-Existing Policy
Earlier also, various policies and laws were formulated to prevent sexual abusing of child but
they were not identified by the common people or due to the fear of being slander these were not
revealed. Earlier polices like Children protection act of 1193 at South Wales or Children and

community service Act of 1994 was there and different laws were formed in different
jurisdictions still they were not enacted to the extent because there were no educative programs
which would educate parents or people about its importance. Earlier policies were aimed at
protecting children from the cruelty arising in the family and giving them protection and the
quasi-government organizations like society for Prevention of Cruelty to children were evident
but they were not directed towards sexual abusive behaviour taking place.
The laws were strictly guided towards protecting children from physical abuse and to know the
authorities about these activities at the earliest possible. It was only in 1980 and 1990s that a
strong law against the child sexual abuse was formulated in Australia. The parents in the earlier
years failed in understanding the abusive activity taking place and which led to the children
living in the situation of unprotected environment (Scott, 2006). The earlier policies are needed
to be reinvented and reformulated and a strong campaign is likely to be introduced which would
led parents to understand the side-effect of such activity and its severity. Along with this few
health promotion and intervention strategy were widespread which again restricts the awareness
which should be created in the society. However, child, youth and family Act 2005 and child
well-being and safety act 2005 are some of the legislative measures which could be used in other
jurisdictions and its outcomes could be accessed.
Policy Option
Longest sentence time period: The offender should be punished for the longest term period. It
will create a sense of fear among the other offenders who are involved in such heinous crime.

Registration of offender: The motive behind getting the offenders registered is that deterring the
offenders is easy if he omits crime gain and accordingly punishment can be set (Finkelhor,
2009).
Reintegration and Supervision of the Community- If sex offenders are provided with proper
counselling and guidance once they return to their community it would prevent them from re-
offending and getting involved in such activity.
Assessment of Policy Action
Longest sentence time period
Advantages
• It would serve as an example for other offenders
• The rate of such crime will decrease
• The offender will never commit such crime again
Disadvantages
• The offender will not get a chance to improve
• He may commit such crime again out of rage and anger
• It may not serve fruitful
 Registration of offender
Advantages

• It will help to identify the offender
• It is useful in developing strong evidence against the offender
• Punishment can be decided earlier
Disadvantages
• It may let the offender think that he may never get a chance to improve
• He may never think to improve again
 Reintegration and supervision of the community
Advantages
• He may get a chance to improve himself
• Society may accept him after such heinous crime
• It will help him in awakening his conscious
Disadvantages
• Community may not accept him
• He may be boycotted from his society
Recommendation
Reintegration and supervision of community for preventing child sexual abuse is something
which should be adopted by Australian government as an approach towards ending the
occurrence of such barbarous crime. It is highly recommended that the government adopt such

policy and procedure as the traditional justice system has been seen as a failure. Therefore
measures such as reintegrating and supervising the offenders once they are over with their
punishment term period are something which brings change in the system (McAlinden, 2006).
The Australian government could form such organization and community where these offenders
would get education regarding such criminal offense. It is recommended because till the time
these offenders will not receive education and will not be shown a better path such events may
never be controlled. Although there are various nongovernment organizations and community
which are formed to take care of the victim, there is still a need to develop such organization
where the offenders would supervise.
If the needs of the victim, community, and the offenders are correctly matched with the
incarnation following reintegration of offender, it will be stated as a successful match. It has also
been found that these offenders often fear to get back to the community again and live a normal
life; therefore, it is the duty of the Australian government to see that they visualize their life
towards a positive end after release (Russell, Seymour and Lambie, 2011).
The government could take up such integration program at the national as well as international
level as it will not only help the offender in the country but will also provide an insight to the
world about protecting their children from occurrence of such events. An educative approach
would, in turn, help the offender in leading a normal life and it also takes him out of the fear of
getting back into the society. Till the time, the Australian government in particular will not take
serious step regarding the integration and supervision of community, it will not help the offender
to redevelop. More often negative psychological attitude has been reflected from the offender
which again restricts the successful implementation of such program (Lasher and McGrath,
2010). In different jurisdiction, different reintegration and supervision program could be initiated

by the government to help a victim lead a normal life and to never commit such criminal offense
again.

References
Tomison,A.M.1995. Update on child sexual abuse [Online]. Available at
https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/update-child-sexual-abuse [Accessed on September 17, 207]
Child Family Community Australia. 2017. Web resources: Child abuse and neglect [Online].
Available at : https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/topics/child-abuse-and-neglect/resources [Accessed on
September 17, 207]
New South Wales Sentencing Council.2015. Sentencing for child sexual assault [Online].
Available at https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/update-child-sexual-abuse [Accessed on
September 17, 207]
Gerathy,S.2015. NSW reviews time limit on child sexual abuse claims. [Online]. Available at
https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/update-child-sexual-abuse [Accessed on September 17, 207]
Philipps,J.2009. Child abuse and protection in Australia. [Online]. Available at
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/
pubs/BN/0809/ChildAbuse [Accessed on September 17, 207]
Rainn. 2016. Child Sexual Abuse . [Online]. Available at https://www.rainn.org/articles/child-
sexual-abuse [Accessed on September 17, 207]
Lasher,M.P and McGrath,R.J.2010. The Impact of Community Notification on Sex Offender
Reintegration. Sage journal 56 (1)

Russel,G., Seymour,F and lambie,I,2011. Community Reintegration of Sex Offenders of
Children in New Zealand. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative
Criminology 57 (1)
McALINDEN,M and Anne. Managing risk: From regulation to the reintegration of sexual
offenders. Sage Journal 6 (2),pp.197-218
Finkelhor,D.2009. The Prevention of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Fall 19(2),pp. 169- 194
Scott,D.2006. Towards a public health model of child protection in
Australia. Communities, Families and Children Australia 1(1),pp. 1-16
McGuire, K. and London, K., 2017. Common beliefs about child sexual abuse and disclosure: a
college sample. Journal of child sexual abuse, 26(2), pp.175-194.