Project Walk Across Oregon: Change Child Abuse Laws

Month-long Walk Event to Raise Awareness and Funds for Wintre’s Wishes Foundation and Goals to Eliminate Child Sexual Abuse in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore.–Join or support Project Walk Across Oregon, beginning Monday, September 1 in Ashland and ending Sunday, September 28 in Portland. Project Walk Across Oregon is raising awareness and support to eliminate Oregon’s statute of limitations on child sexual abuse. A detailed itinerary schedule is listed on Wintre’s Wishes Foundation website, click here (https://www.wintreswishes.org/Pages/Project_Walk.aspx).

Presently, Oregon is 1 of 34 states in the nation that sets statutes of limitations on sexual abuse crimes. That means unprosecuted perpetrators are allowed to continue their abuse to a mostly young and silent group of victims – children without legal recourse. Project Walk Across Oregon is part of an effort to pass a bill in the 2009 Oregon Legislature that will eliminate the statue of limitations for criminal prosecution of sexual abuse.

“The Project Walk Across Oregon is one way Wintre’s Wishes Foundation is raising awareness about a dark, silent epidemic,” said Matthew Nees, co-founder of Wintre’s Wishes Foundation. “Our goal is to bring individuals and families together to break down the stigmas associated with sex abuse and to leverage a platform where our voice stands against perpetrators and offenders. Wintre’s(cq) Wishes Foundation is dedicated to SUPPORT, PREVENTION and ADVOCACY for survivors and their supporters. We want the Oregon public to know there are people and organizations in their community working together to make Oregon safer for children and put an end to this heinous crime.”

Wintre’s (cq) Wishes Foundation, an Oregon organization dedicated to raising awareness and support survivors of sexual abuse, and NAPSAC (National Association to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children) are sponsors of the walk. Donations are accepted and supporters are welcome to join the walk at any point along the way.
For more information, contact:

Matthew Nees

Co-founder, Wintre’s Wishes Foundation (www.wintreswishes.org)
6107 SW Murray Blvd, #406
Beaverton, OR 97008
503.780.1965

[email protected]

BACKGROUND:

Child sex abuse is a crime that usually stays hidden until the victim is old enough or strong enough to speak out about it. Approximately 95% of victims of child abuse are 18 years old and younger; 51% of them are under 12 years of age. The mean age for reported sex abuse crimes is 9 years old. At least 90% of reported crimes are by someone close to the family, and yet 88% of sex abuse crimes still go unreported. Because of the nature of these crimes, victims often don’t come forward with information about them until they are adults. By the time they are reported, if a state has a statute of limitations for the crime, such as Oregon, there is no recourse for the victim.

The effects of child sex abuse do not stop when the actual abuse ends. The repercussions are often life long and debilitating. Consequences of child sex abuse on the survivor manifest in health and behavior problems. Victims experience PTSD, school and learning problems. They may develop more anxiety disorders and are more likely to develop depressive disorders as adults. It is often difficult to make the transition to adulthood. Many seek out self-medication or inappropriate sexual behaviors. They may become abusers themselves, and commit other crimes, as well.

Child sex abuse advocates note that murder has no statute of limitations and believe that child sex abuse is equally heinous and should not be restricted by a statute of limitations. It is to this end that Project Walk Across Oregon and Wintre’s(cq) Wishes Foundation is dedicating its efforts to pass a law in Oregon that would eliminate all statute of limitations for sexual abuse crimes.

About Wintre’s Wishes Foundation (www.wintreswishes.org):

The Wintre’s Wishes Foundation is an organization developed to raise awareness (and eyebrows) of child sexual abuse in Oregon. Wintre’s Wishes Foundation is dedicated to SUPPORT, PREVENTION and ADVOCACY for survivors and their supporters. Our goal is to bring individuals and families together to break down the stigmas associated with sex abuse and to leverage a platform where our voice stands against perpetrators and offenders. All money raised through this foundation goes to support survivors and prevention of further sex abuse.

Through the Wintre’s Wishes Foundation, we seek to:

* Educate adults on the techniques used by sex offenders to identify and groom children, and techniques they use to avoid getting caught and prosecuted.
* Make a difference for Oregon’s children by eliminating the statute of limitations on reporting and prosecuting sex offenders.
* Work with other victim’s rights groups to ensure victim’s and families of victims voices will be heard in our courtrooms.
* Raise money to help cover some of the therapy costs for survivors who do not have the resources.

Contacts

Wintre’s Wishes Foundation
Matt Nees, 503-780-1965
[email protected]
www.wintreswishes.org


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