Lawmakers Urged To Pass Child Victims Act Amid Ongoing #MeToo Movement

Survivors of child sexual abuse stressed on state lawmakers in Albany, New York, on Tuesday to take note of the message spread by the #MeToo movement and pass the Child Victims Act.

According to a report by New York Daily News, the survivors stated that the exposure of high profile sexual abuse cases which included the recent Larry Nassar sexual abuse case signaled the need for the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, to pass the Child Victims Act.

Bridie Farrell, a sexual abuse survivor and former speed-skater, said during a press conference outside the New York State Senate chamber in Albany, “There just doesn't exist a better time than right now.”

Considering the fact that the Assembly, in 2017, approved the bill — that would grant child abuse victims time to lodge criminal cases until they turn 28 years old and 50 years for lawsuits — and that New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo included a version of the bill in his latest budget proposal, Farrell along with other abuse survivors said Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan must allow voting on the bill, otherwise people might not vote for him in the upcoming elections in November.

With regard to Nassar’s sentence Farrell said, “If you don't know why it's time to pass this, Senator Flanagan, then go back and watch the accounts from U.S.A. Gymnastics," New York Daily News reported.

Another child abuse survivor, Brian Toale said, “People are going to find out, the more they pay attention, that it is the New York State Senate that is blocking this bill.”

Flanagan reportedly said, “I've said all along we will continue to have conversations on that.” “It is a very important issue,” he added.

However, Flanagan didn’t promise that he will allow a vote on the bill, the report stated.

The report further stated that the bill which was proposed by Cuomo allowed the child sex abuse survivors to bring up civil cases up to 50 years from when the attack happened. This would end the statute of limitations for any felonies that were related to sexual crimes committed against someone below the age of 18. The current law allows the victims to lodge cases until 23 years of age.

Cuomo’s bill also consisted of a one-year window during which old sexual abuse cases could be revived and it would treat public and private institutions in the same manner.

Under the current law, anyone who was abused in a public area like a school have only 90 days from the time the incident happens to lodge a complaint in order to sue the guilty party.

Farrell also stated, “While we speak about #MeToo, it is very important to speak about #KidsToo.”

However, religious communities like the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Jewish community rejected the bill’s provision which dealt with reviving old cases.