Many Victims Falling through the CVA Cracks in New York
A report out of New York State is drawing attention to the hundreds of victims of sexual violence who have been unable to take advantage of the Child Victims Act. We hope that this story will encourage other attorneys to step into the arena and use their training and expertise to give voice to the voiceless and help prevent future cases of sexual violence.
According to the Times Union, many survivors are facing brick walls when trying to file suit because attorneys can only afford to take on cases that involve large organizations like the Catholic church or the Boy Scouts of America. This is sad and distressing news because we know that many of these victims come forward in order to protect others from being abused by the person who hurt them, and being unable to sue means those abusers will stay hidden.
We hope that survivors and concerned citizens will support a proposed measure to address this serious problem. Sen. James Gaughran has introduced a bill that would add a box at the bottom of state tax refund documents so that New Yorkers could donate to a fund that would provide grants to legal nonprofits that represent people who want to bring sex abuse claims. The bill would also establish fines for people found criminally responsible for certain sex crimes, and those fines would also go into the fund.
When survivors are given a chance to have their day in court, communities are safer and we know that when abusers are named, children and the vulnerable are better protected. We hope that Sen. Gaughran’s bill is enacted, and also that those attorneys who read this report will consider accepting these survivors as clients, helping them make their stories public and leading to safer, more informed communities throughout New York.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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