Bristlecone Project
Men who were sexually abused or assaulted—whether as children or adults—may feel isolated and stigmatized by what happened to them. The truth is that millions of men from around the…
Articles
Articles
Advocates call for more female-specific sex offender rehabilitation
Experts have flagged there is a lack of gender-specific rehabilitation for female sex offenders in New Zealand, compared to men who are more often imprisoned and enter male-oriented group programmes….
Nelson’s Annette Milligan dedicated to supporting sexual assault victims
On the back of a 30-year career as a nurse and public health campaigner, Annette Milligan has a new role that will see her focus on improving outcomes for victims…
Northland sexual abuse survivor speaks out to assist healing
Paul Davenport is speaking out about being sexually abused as a child growing up in Northland a bid to help others. Read article By Jenny Ling Published in NZ Herald…
Church apologises after schools learned of priest’s conviction through media
The Catholic Church has been forced to apologise to outraged parents who only learned their parish priest had been convicted of sex offences through a story on Stuff. Published in…
Victoria’s education regulator launches investigation into St Kevin’s College
An elite Melbourne school will be investigated by the Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority over its management of child abuse risks. Published in SBS News
New domestic violence stats show psychological abuse as common as physical
The ‘Offences by Family Members’ report was released today as part of the wider ‘2018 New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey’, with the findings likely to influence future funding for…
Sexual abuse survivor Ken Clearwater asks MPs to acknowledge male rape victims
A sexual abuse survivor is asking lawmakers to better acknowledge male rape victims and is calling for an end to gender comparisons in sexual abuse statistics. Ken Clearwater, the National…
Catholic Priest Says ‘Pedophilia Doesn’t Kill Anyone’ After Barring Abortion-Rights Lawmakers From Communion
A priest in Rhode Island has defended his decision to ban all lawmakers who voted in favor enshrining abortion protections under state law from receiving communion at his parish. Published…
National Redress Scheme: Sex abuse survivors say victims are dying before receiving compensation
It has been more than 18 months since the National Redress Scheme was introduced as a way of compensating survivors of clergy child abuse. Published in ABC
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge rejects proposed Queensland laws to report child abusers who confess
Brisbane’s Catholic Archbishop has made a formal submission opposing the State Government’s plan to make priests report child sex offences revealed in the confessional. Published in ABC
I vainly believed I had the fortitude to report on child abuse, but there was always my own case
Periodically, for most of the five years of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, I covered its squalid revelations as both journalist and abuse victim. For…
ComVoices 2016 State of the Sector Survey finds community organisations struggling
ComVoices have released results from their second survey of community organisations. The State of the Sector Survey 2016 was completed by 280. Published in New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse
Former Marlborough teacher jailed for sex with students can now be named
A Marlborough teacher who was jailed for having sex with two students aged under 16 has abandoned her bid to keep her name secret. Jamiee Marie Cooney admitted at the…
Queensland archbishop opposes planned law to compel priests to report child sexual abuse
Mark Coleridge says move to legislate against the sanctity of the confessional will fail to make children safer. Published in The Guardian
Former Scout leader accused of abusing boy in darkened cinema
Former scout leader James Morris, also known as Ian Phipps, has denied 17 charges of doing indecent acts on six boys over a period of 40 years. Published in Stuff
Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year 2020 Finalists
2020 Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year 2020 finalists, from left, Ken Clearwater, Diane Yalden and Nick Loosley. Our judges have chosen three finalists whose selflessness and determination…
Former CYFS worker, who once cared for murdered teen, named over allegations he abused boys
A former Child, Youth and Family worker accused of abusing more than a dozen boys can now be revealed as a man who once cared for a teen murdered in…
Nelson charity ‘appalled’ by efforts to host freedom campers instead of homeless
A Nelson charity is “appalled” by bolstered efforts to host freedom campers rather than the city’s homeless. Published in TV NZ
Courage in the void of suicide
Suffering can produce something; it’s not random or meaningless, nor merely something to get rid of. It can act as either a fertiliser or a poison, writes Dr Chris Bowden….
Male rape survivors suffer in silence. We need to help them talk
Gender norms compound the trauma for men who are victims of rape and sexual abuse. It’s time to give them support. Published in The Guardian
Abuse in care: Files show government department knew of rape allegations
An abuse survivor is asking the Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate why a government agency failed to protect her when made aware of allegations she was being raped while…
Reynhard Sinaga case: why male victims and survivors need their own support system
The crimes of Reynhard Sinaga described by prosecutors as “the most prolific rapist in British history” have shocked and horrified many people. But the case has also highlighted that rape…