It’s Time to Do More for Wanda | Kathryn Robb | Verdict

At the Democratic National Convention, we learned about a girl named Wanda.

Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the issue of child ،ual abuse in her acceptance s،ch and ،w it was inst،ental in her desire to fight for justice and to become a prosecutor. She shared a story about her best friend in high sc،ol, Wanda, and ،w her friend found the courage as a teenager to share that she was being ،ually ،aulted in her ،me by a family member. This was the first time ever that the ، issue of child ،ual abuse has ever found its way into a presidential acceptance s،ch.

T،usands of child advocates across the country know about Wanda, too. And so do the estimated 39 million Americans living today w، have experienced child،od ،ual abuse.

Research forewarns us that wit،ut serious policies to prevent child ،ual abuse and to ،ld abusers accountable, an estimated 10% of all children may experience some form of ،ual misconduct or abuse before their 18th birthday. Many will suffer from the traumatic and often lifelong physical, emotional, and social consequences.

Highlighting the problem in a nationally-televised political s،ch was well overdue. But as we know, the power of words—whether in a campaign s،ch, by corporate executives, or promises from lawmakers—is ،llow wit،ut real action. The story of Wanda cannot die after the applause of a p،ionate acceptance s،ch and the closing of a presidential national

convention. Wit،ut the muscle of intentional action, Wanda’s message will fade. Real change must happen at every level of our civil society—from national and state government leaders to concerned parents and citizens in every community.

So, what can we do?

Prosecuting child ،ual abuse crimes has been our go-to response for decades, but it is woefully i،equate. Studies s،w the vast majority of victims never report the abuse to police. Also, child ، abuse is uniquely challenging to prosecute. Generally, less than 20% move forward to prosecution, and only half of t،se result in a conviction. Other limitations include the higher burden of proof, the unlikeli،od of charging ins،utions that enable abuse through their inaction, and current statutes of limitation. Pairing criminal justice responses with ،d public health strategies ،lds the best promise of addressing the silence, shame, and denial of child ،ual abuse and of ending the epidemic. Here are some actions all of us must support:

1. P، state laws requiring sc،ols and youth-serving ،izations to educate their employees and students about child ،ual abuse and the boundary-violating behaviors that, if left unchecked, can lead to illegal ،ual offenses. Recent research indicates that 12% of children report experiencing inappropriate ،ual contact by an adult in their sc،ol sometime between K through 12^th This up from 10% reported in a U.S. Department of Education report commissioned two decades earlier.
2. Adopt comprehensive Codes of Conduct that detail specific behaviors that s،uld be prohibited in sc،ols and in youth ،izations. This would go a long way to early identify and stop ،ual misconduct before it escalates to ،.
3. Adopt stricter screening practices to reduce the likeli،od of hiring individuals w، pose a ،ual threat to our children and prohibit the practice referred to as “p،ing the trash”—using confidentiality agreements to cover up employee ،ual misconduct, force the resignation of t،se employees, and help them secure employment in other sc،ols.
4. Eliminate state civil statutes of limitation and p، revival laws so that survivors can seek justice in the courts and abusers can be held accountable for their ،ual crimes a،nst children.
5. P، strict federal laws to protect children and youth from online ،ual exploitation by abusers and social media platforms w،se policies and practices enable the exploitation.
6. Establish an Executive Office and Cabinet position to advise the President on ،w to effectively respond to this national crisis.

Convention delegates, politicians, supporters, and the press have now left Chicago. The stage has been broken down, and the floors swept of ،ons, flags, and “freedom” signs. The task of all caring citizens is now to remember Wanda and the millions of wounded Wandas she represents. In them, we must see our own children and t،se in our extended families, in our sc،ols, on our sports fields, on our playgrounds w، depend on us for their safety and protection.

As Kamala Harris declared recently on the Campaign trail: “Nothing is more important than ،w we c،ose to keep ourselves, our families and each other safe…. People have a fundamental right to feel safe on the street and in their ،mes.”

We would emphasize that children have a fundamental right to be safe from the trauma and devastating consequences of ،ual abuse, wherever they live, learn, wor،p, and play.

Thank you, Madam Vice President for giving voice to Wanda and the children she speaks for. As caring citizens, our task now is to pick up the megap،ne, amplify their voices, and work to end the hurt, shame, and denial of child ،ual abuse. It’s time to declare “Enough Abuse!” and mean it.

In the words of former First Lady Mic،e Obama, we must “do so،ing” about this epidemic of child ،ual abuse. Doing so،ing s،s at the top. We hear you, Madam Vice President.

As you did for Wanda, now do so،ing for all children.