CANADIAN CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED BY NEW LAW
Age of consent raised to 16

Friday, May 3rd was one a most wonderful day -- the passage of Bill C-22, raising the age of consent to 16 years of age. That means it is illegal for adults to engage in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 years. It is strange that after all the years of opposition to this and the defeat of every like bill that has been debated over the years, this one passed unanimously. That is not a complaint, just an observation! Another observation is that the news media did not report the passage of this Bill that protects children from sexual predators.

THE GOOD NEWS IS:

·        There is now zero tolerance when a child under 16 years of age is sexual used by an adult
·        Because the child gave consent can not be used as a defense.
·        Thinking that the child is older can no longer be a defense.
·        Canada is no longer has the lowest age of consent all in Western world and therefore no longer be a haven for child sex tourism.
·        The close in age exemption (5years) means consensual teenage relationships will not be criminalized.
·        This new law strengthens and in harmonious with current child protection laws.

·        Child pornography
·        Internet luring
·        Child prostitution
·        Child abuse
·        Child sex tourism

Because of legislation passed in June 2005, teenager aged 16 and 17 (with in legal definition of a child) will continue to have protection from adult predators because the following should be considered by the courts:

·        The age differential between the teenager and the adult
·        The vulnerability of the child
·        The power and authority of the adult
·        The trust relationship between the adult and the victim 

CAMPAIGNS FOR JUSTICE CAN CHANGE THE LIVES OF CHIDLREN AND MAKE A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL.  

As you know,Dolina Smith (Past President of C.A.S.E) has been speaking out on the issue of the age of consent for at least 15 years. During the last few years C.A.S.E.¹s Ribbon of Signatures has been an effective and creative tool for get people involved and the message to the MPs. Over those years other voices from other organizations were added. We know that these collective voices from many organizations and individuals across this nation have been united and that has been powerful. Through all this we have learned that:

·        If we believe in something important we must never give up.
·        We really can make a difference.
·        Our voices will eventually be heard and actions taken.
·        If what we are asking for is correct and true it will eventually happen.
·        Working with all the like-minded people brings results.
·        Collectively we are powerful.
·        A cool headed logical approach is the very best.

C.A.S.E.’s only regret is that the change in the law didn’t happen 15 years ago. Think of all the teenagers that might have been protected from sexual assault and abuse and the lifetimes of trauma that might have been prevented.

Millionaire couple arrested and charged with slavery
By FRANK ELTMAN

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) - A millionaire couple accused of keeping two Indonesian women as slaves in their luxurious Long Island home and abusing them for years have been indicted on federal slavery charges.

Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 35, and her husband, Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani, 51, operate a worldwide perfume business out of their home, contracting with overseas factories to manufacture the fragrances. 

The two were arrested last week after one of their servants was found wandering outside a doughnut shop on Long Island, wearing only pants and a towel. The woman was believed to have fled the home in Muttontown, a tony community on Long Island's north shore, when she took the trash out the night before.

The couple pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court, and a magistrate judge set bail at $3.5 million and imposed home detention with electronic monitoring.

An indictment handed up Tuesday night formally charged with them with two counts of forced labor and added two counts of harboring illegal residents.

Charles A. Ross, who represents Varsha Sabhnani, has said that the couple traveled extensively and that the two Indonesian women were free to leave whenever they wished. He previously described them as "model citizens" who "only want to clear their names."

Friends and relatives indicated the two would be willing to post bail, but as of Wednesday, they remained in custody.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Demitri Jones called the allegations "truly a case of modern-day slavery."

The women, prosecutors said, were subjected to beatings, had scalding water thrown on them and were forced to repeatedly climb stairs as punishment for perceived misdeeds. In one case, prosecutors said, one of the women was forced to eat 25 hot chili peppers at one time.

One of the women also told authorities they were forced to sleep on mats in the kitchen and were fed so little, they had to steal food.

The women legally arrived in the United States on B-1 visas in 2002; the Sabhnanis then confiscated their passports and refused to let them leave their home, authorities said. Identified in court papers as Samirah and Nona, the women said they were promised payments of $200 and $100 a month, but federal prosecutors said they were never given money directly. One of the victims' daughters living in Indonesia was sent $100 a month, prosecutors said.

They have since been cared for by Catholic Charities, according to a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Deported paedophiles on the prowl in India
Arun Ram. Chennai

Dozens of paedophiles convicted for child sex abuse in the US are on the prowl in India, unmonitored by the law enforecement agencies. This is a time when according to the government's own submission, every second child in the country faces some form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

Records of the US department of homeland security and the immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) say the US authorities have arrested 9,800 child sex offenders, under a crackdown called 'Operation Predator'. ICE says 85 per cent of those arrested are foreigners - including Indians - who are deported to their respective countries. Once back in India, these paedophiles walk free, as the Indian authorities do not take action against anyone for a crime committed in another country.

A New York Post reporter earlier this month said the US authorities would soon deport "26 foreign convicted sexual predators who targeted children as young as three years old." The man who molested the three-year-old in New York is an Indian, and will soon join the ranks of free child predators in India.

When contacted by DNA, Joseph P Galoski, deputy ICE attache at the US Embassy in Delhi, did not give the number of Indians deported. He simply said, "Seven Indians are deported under Operatino Predator."

While the US authorities prosecute and punish such predator who are natural citiznes of the US, foreigners are simply deported. A US official escorts the convict till his port of entry in his country, and his duty ends after handing over the person to immigration.

Studies reveal that people with a history of child sex abuse repeat the crime, and such predators pose a major threat to children in India. "It is a dangerous problem swept under the carpet. The Union home ministry should adopt a policy and issue guidelines to the states to monitor such people," former CBI director RK Raghavan told DNA.

A study by the Union ministry of women and child development recently found that nearly 50 per cent of children are abused and both boys and girls are euqally vulnerable. It also found that 70 per cent of children don't report the abuse.

Tulir - Centre for the Prevention & Healing of Child Sexual Abuse
57-A, L Block, 26th Street
Anna Nagar (East)
Chennai - 600 102, India
Phone: (044) 26632026
tulircphcsa@yahoo.co.in
www.tulircphcsa.org 

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