SQLFusion - Ontario wide strategy needed for male victims of sex abuse inquiry told

Ontario-wide strategy needed for male sex abuse victims, inquiry told

CBCNews.ca

Last Updated: Friday, February 27, 2009 | 5:31 PM ET

The Canadian Press

Male victims of childhood sexual abuse need specialized support services and a provincial ombudsman dedicated to their plight, the Cornwall inquiry heard Friday as the $40-million probe drew to a close after three years of testimony.

The inquiry, called in 2005, was established to examine institutional responses to allegations of sexual abuse in eastern Ontario. The first witness was heard in February 2006.

The inquiry spent the majority of its final week hearing submissions dealing with allegations that a pedophile clan operated with impunity in the city for decades. Lawyers at the inquiry cast the clan stories as fabrications spread by a misguided police officer — Perry Dunlop — and embraced by a panic-stricken community.

On Friday, the submissions focused on healing and reconciliation for the community and victims.

Following a complaint in 1992 that a former altar boy had been sexually abused by a priest and a probation officer, many others came forward to allege they had also been abused by prominent people decades ago.

Many of those complainants were men, and a lawyer for the counselling group The Men's Project said even though there were a lot of community services in the city at the time, none could adequately handle men's counselling.

"In fact, they had to bring in my client from Ottawa because they were the only ones with expertise to deal with this," David Bennett told the inquiry.

"Even though there were existing social services, they just weren't able to deal with it and [that's] why there needs to be a specialized area."

Appointment of ombudsman urged

Both The Men's Project and the Victims Group urged the commissioner to recommend that the Ontario government create victim treatment service centres for male survivors of sexual abuse provincewide.

Both groups also called for the province to create a sex abuse ombudsman.

"There has been a theme from survivors of not being believed, getting the run-around, being kept in the dark, which for some had the effect of re-victimization," the Men's Project said in its written submissions. "An ombudsman could rectify this."

In addition, the government needs to remedy how treatment for sexual abuse victims is funded, the Men's Project said.

Currently, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care assumes funding for recent sexual assault, but a year after the assault service is often refused and the person is referred to community services run by the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Men's Project said.

"Sexual abuse victims, either male or female, experience post-traumatic stress issues that can only be defined as complex, potentially disabling and requiring specialized treatment," the group said, in recommending the Health Ministry take responsibility for treatment funding.

The Men's Project said given the economic downturn, there are worries the government will not have the resources to fund male sex abuse services. But it's too important not to, the group said.

"To not deal with this issue, to not meet it head on, not to implement these types of recommendations will cost the citizens of this province a great deal more," Bennett said.

Apology sought from local bishop, mayor, premier

The group Citizens for Community Renewal also pushed in their submissions for an apology to sex abuse victims and all citizens of Cornwall from the local bishop, the mayor and the premier.

Speaking in Amherstburg, Ont., on Friday, Premier Dalton McGuinty said he wouldn't comment until he has seen what commissioner G. Normand Glaude has to say.

"I should wait for the report [and] see what recommendations flow from that," McGuinty said. "Who knows, the report itself may even speak to that kind of a request."

The full report is expected to be completed by July.

A school resource officer program that has seen police officers in 22 high schools in Toronto should be extended throughout Ontario, the Cornwall Police Service said.

It has been successful and would foster communication between police and youth, Cornwall Police Chief Dan Parkinson said after the inquiry.

"It is for young people that they can speak to police officers, that the barrier of fear perhaps is somewhat reduced and police officers in the schools... are able to build those relationships," Parkinson said.

The police also recommended a review of privacy legislation and how it impacts sexual abuse investigations.

Police are not necessarily able to inform the public of alleged child sexual abuse, lawyer John Callaghan said in an interview.

"We're asking that there be a review, not so that we disregard the other societal values [of right to privacy and presumption of innocence], but take another hard look as to under what circumstances and to make it clear when the police can tell the public about predators in their midst," Callaghan said.

Story comments (5)
VotesForCash wrote:Posted 2009/03/01at 6:13 PM ET
Start with the church first, then the family court system.

Wiggly Iggly Faker wrote:Posted 2009/02/28

at 12:38 AM ETI can understand blaming the people with money and the organizatons they may have been associated too.

But the real problem is the church condemns actions of same sex marriage so of course they feel guilty, if we teach them same sex sex is normal but it must be between two constenting adults I think they will feel better about themselves.

Also too many people think that homosexuality is about sex and just sex and not about love because gays feel guilty they are often jumping from one relationship too another, the Liberal Party has gone a long way in promoting gay issues and done a good job of exposing every sin ever connected to the church which has been helpful in hurting th echurch finacially and there image, we need to keep calling the church phonies to discredit them and advance our cause.

Chant1 wrote:Posted 2009/02/27 at 11:14 PM ET

More funding for male sexual abuse victims is desperately needed!

There are more services for women than men. Not only that, men are less likely to talk to friends (especially male friends) about their traumatic experience and are less likely to get counselling--this has serious implications on society as a whole. It is shocking that in my immediate circle of friends that I know three male friends that have been victims. It's an epidemic. Very sick world we live in.

Jim Poushinsky wrote:Posted 2009/02/27at 9:27 PM ET

"Both The Men's Project and the Victims Group urged the commissioner to recommend that the Ontario government create victim treatment service centres for male survivors of sexual abuse provincewide."

If only life was that simple! Unfortunately the survivors of early childhood sexual abuse who suffer with post-traumatic stress on into their adult lives usually don't know what happened to them, so wouldn't be helped at all by such a program.

They don't know because their minds dissociated from the traumatic event, and they never consciously experienced what happened. When such overwhelming abuse was repeated again and again, their mind formed a splinter personality that was present for the abuse, but that their normal consciousness is unaware of. The only clue may be PTSD and amnesia gaps in their childhood memories.

What I would like to see is a government health program directed at helping all the victims of complex PTSD who are not successfully helped by the current short-term behavioural modification treatment programs.

A helping program that assists dissociated PTSD sufferers to heal by allowing the dissociated sensory fragments of weird feelings and bodily sensations and strange thoughts to come together into the experience of the original traumas would be a huge help for all the survivors of overwhelming childhood trauma from whatever source. Such a service could potentially benefit the 15% of the population suffering from PTSD. And amongst the complex cases, which most adult cases are, upwards of 85 will likely prove to involve overwheming sexual abuse in early childhood.

So instead of a mental health progam that targets only those few with a known history of sex abuse, let's cast a wider net and help all the victims of trauma.

moosecreekgil wrote:Posted 2009/02/27at 7:56 PM ET

Why should the Bishop, the Mayor and the Premier apologize. The alledged sexual abuse did not occur on their watches.

I fail to see why these gentlemen should nake amends for mistakes made by other people!