SAFE: Stopping sexual abuse.
SEEKING HELP? Call 09 377 9898. It is never too late to change.
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Sexual Abuse Facts The rate of sexual abuse in New Zealand is one of the highest in the world. Research also indicates that as little as 7% of this abuse will ever be reported. Sexual abuse does not have to involve physical force or even touching. It is any activity where someone older, bigger, more mature or more knowledgeable about sexual matters abuses their power. The abuser acts in a sexually inappropriate way with a victim who has not consented. It can involve showing pornography to a child, photographing a child in sexual poses and viewing sexual images of children on the internet as well as inappropriate touching activities with children. Why treat people who sexually abuse? Some people in the community believe that it is not possible to change the behaviour of someone who has sexually abused a child. Others believe that jail is the only answer. However, treatment of child sex offenders is necessary and is effective. More than 93% of offenders who attend the SAFE programme never re-offend. For the community this is a much more effective option than sending them to jail with no rehabilitation, as many of these people have been victims themselves. To keep the community safe, the cycle must be broken. Furthermore, Government research estimates the cost of imprisoning a sex offender to be around $300,000 a year. It is estimated that successful treatment of the 200 or so offenders on our books could save the country around $40 million. Can the problem be solved? Yes. SAFE has been shown to reduce re-offending by as much as two-thirds. Our goal is that our programmes will be so well established, and the community so aware of the problem, that the numbers on our treatment programme will decline. And that people will seek help before they sexually abuse others. Our results to date have been remarkable and we are on the road to solving the problem. |
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