Hear The Children's Cry calls for strengthening of Sexual Offences Act

 

Director of advocacy group Hear The Children's Cry, Nigel Cooper, is calling for the strengthening of the Sexual Offences Act, as he pointed to data on the tragedies which have befallen children in the last five years. 

 

More than 150 children have been murdered since 2020 and more than 3,000 have been victims of sexual assault. 

 

Speaking Monday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, Mr. Cooper said the murder of Kelsey Ferrigon must not become a nine-day wonder. He said measures such as the review of the Sex Offender Registry to widen access must be urgently acted on.

 

"We've seen the parliament stay open til after midnight when they want to pass urgent laws, when they prioritise stuff. So we think that these laws need to be reviewed around children. But we're also saying... when it comes to sexual abuse, there is a pattern. Studies show that  lot of times, the abusers were abused themselves. So you want to stop the cycle, and a part of stopping the cycle comes back to parenting that can help to protect your child to not be exposed to certain things, to limit the possibility of those incidents happening.... Governments have been trying to fix the economy but they also need to fix the society. They're two different things," Mr. Cooper argued. 

 

In the meantime, Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison has said the family of Kelsey Ferrigon, particularly her siblings, will be receiving ongoing support to cope with her death. 

 

Mrs. Gordon Harrison said the direct intervention will also be extended to students at St. John's Primary School where Kelsey attended.