NOVA SCOTIA- CANADA
NOVA SCOTIA Youth
in 'gap years' may get help
MARY ELLEN MacINTYRE STAFF REPORTER
mmacintyre@herald.ca @CH_MEMacIntyre
Proposed changes to the Children and Family Services Act could mean big improvements in the lives of young people who are 16 to 19.
Sometimes, however, change brings about unintended consequences.
Proposed legislation falling under the Community Services Department would extend protection for abused and neglected young people in this age category if they ask for assistance. In effect, those 16 to 19 would still be considered children for child protection services purposes.
Currently, there is no protection for them, which means there is no income assistance for this age group if they are unable or unwilling to live at home. Often, they become vulnerable young people without a home, making their way through the world by couch surfing at friends' homes or living on the streets.
At age 19, they are eligible for assistance, but from 16 to 19, there is very little.
‟We call them the gap years - too old to be served by child protection services - so this move to extend the age is a progressive move, and we are in favour of that," said Robert Wright, a therapist, educator and member of the Nova Scotia Sexual Assault Services Network.
However, members of this group have one big concern about the legislation.
‟If a child discloses a sexual assault, I am required by law to report it," said Wright.
As a therapist, he said it is astounding to see how many young people do not seek therapy for sexual abuse until the they turn that ‟magical" age of 16 -the cut-off for the requirement to report sexual abuse to authorities.
‟You could have a case within a family where a child has been abused by an uncle but doesn't want Uncle Charlie to go to jail . . . and once it's reported, the family and the victim lose control over what happens," Wright said.
‟The issue is the 17- and 18-year-old who doesn't want it reported - if they fall under the legislation, it has to be reported," he said.
‟We're trying to create an environment where people can seek services, and this would have the opposite effect because rather than encourage people to disclose, it might prevent them." It's not a matter of protecting the perpetrator. It is often that the victim is seeking therapy to help deal with the trauma and can't deal with police or intrusive questions.
There are fears it could also prevent victims in this age groupfrom seeking medical services such as emergency contraception or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
As Dalhousie Student Union vice-president, Kaitlynne Lowe has particular concerns with the proposed legislation.
The student union is set to launch a six-week pilot project that will involve a sexual violence help line to start during orientation week. The phone line will offer assistance to victims of sexual violence on campus.
‟If we can't guarantee confidentiality, many first- and secondyear students simply won't feel comfortable disclosing their assault to phone line volunteers," Lowe said.
Wendy Bungay, director of child protection for Community Services Department, said the group's concerns have definitely been heard.
Bungay said there have been more than two dozen consultations on the proposed legislation and numerous amendments have been crafted.
‟We take all the feedback under careful consideration and will make sure the legislation is a successful reflection of what is needed." When the final product goes before the law amendments committee in the fall, everyone within the system wants the very best legislation, Bungay said.
‟We know 16-year-olds are not able to be self-sufficient," she said.
‟So we want to assist them in making the transition." While it's difficult to impose your will on most 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds, having the ability to make services available to this age group means fewer teens would be left without any help.
‟We're looking to improve outcomes for children," Bungay said.
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CANADA- SUICIDE HOTLINE
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Would
you know the signs if your child is being victimized by #cyberbullying or being a cyberbully? Great
graphic from the Cyberbullying
Research Center to
help you.
The
woman behind a cervical screening and sexual transmitted infections clinic for
women who have ex...
---
TIP SHEET
How To Understand And Handle Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is social terror by technology.When a kid of any age, up to 18 is threatened, humiliated, harassed, or humiliated via use of technology --- this is Cyberbullying. Yet many college students are being cyberbullied as well.
Depending on their ages, up to 43% of students are being digitally harassed online. While most call it cyberbullying, it's important to understand that not all of these kids and teens are being bullied online, but they are being digitally harassed in one form or another. Either way it's not fun!
This social online terror is used through e-mail, cell phones, instant messaging, Web sites, online personal polling Web sites. It is done by kids deliberately and repeatedly and is used by an individual or group with the intention of harming other kids and teens.
- Kids use technology to talk to their friends and make new ones. While most kids use the Internet responsibly, others are using all of this technology to terrorize and harass online!
- Kids should be taught that if they wouldn't say something to someone's face, they shouldn't say it to them online, through texting, or posting in any other way.
- Digital Harassment is the perfect way for the online aggressors to remain anonymous. So anonymous, there is no fear of punishment because they don't have to come face to face with their victim(s.)
- The very
first thing parents must do is learn the Internet. In other words …Speak
the lingo and know the game!!
If you don’t how will you help your children? If you do not work on a computer and the Internet regularly, there are libraries, schools, YMCAs and neighborhood associations who offer this instruction. - The second thing you must to is to communicate with your kids and teens. Let them know that it’s okay to come to you if they are being cyberbullied. Encourage them to tell you immediately if they are being digitally harassed, cyberbullied, cyberstalked or if they’ve been approached by a predator. Tell them you won’t be angry about anything. You just want to help them.
- Be sure to keep your home computer(s) out in the open, such as a family room or kitchen.
- Encourage your child to alert you if they are aware of others who may be the victims of similar behavior.
- Explain that cyberbullying is harmful and unacceptable. Discuss appropriate online behavior and make it clear that there will be consequences for inappropriate behavior.
- Although it’s important to install parental control filtering software, it’s just as important for you to monitor your child’s computer. You want to respect your children’s privacy yet, your child’s safety may override these privacy concerns. Tell your child that you are not spying on them but you may review their online communications if you think there is reason for concern.
Recent
studies found that:
•18% of students in grades 6-8 said they had been
cyberbullied at least once in the last couple of months; and 6% said it had
happened to them 2 or more times.
•11% of students in grades 6-8 said they had cyberbullied another person at least once in the last couple of months, and 2% said they had done it two or more times.
•19% of regular Internet users between the ages of 10 and 17 reported being involved in online aggression; 15% had been aggressors, and 7% had been targets (3% were both aggressors and targets)
•17% of 6-11 year-olds and 36% of 12-17-year-olds reported that someone said threatening or embarrassing things about them through email, instant messages, web sites, chat rooms, or text messages.
•Cyberbullying has increased in recent years. In nationally representative surveys of 10-17 year-olds, twice as many children and youth indicated that they had been victims and perpetrators of online harassment.
•11% of students in grades 6-8 said they had cyberbullied another person at least once in the last couple of months, and 2% said they had done it two or more times.
•19% of regular Internet users between the ages of 10 and 17 reported being involved in online aggression; 15% had been aggressors, and 7% had been targets (3% were both aggressors and targets)
•17% of 6-11 year-olds and 36% of 12-17-year-olds reported that someone said threatening or embarrassing things about them through email, instant messages, web sites, chat rooms, or text messages.
•Cyberbullying has increased in recent years. In nationally representative surveys of 10-17 year-olds, twice as many children and youth indicated that they had been victims and perpetrators of online harassment.
Who Are
The Victims and Perpetrators of Cyberbullying?
In a
recent study of students in grades 6-8
•Girls were about twice as likely as boys to be
victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.
•Of those students who had been cyberbullied relatively frequently (at least twice in the last couple of months):
•62% said that they had been cyberbullied by another student at school, and 46% had been cyberbullied by a friend.
•55% didn't know who had cyberbullied them.
•Of those students who admitted cyberbullying others relatively frequently:
•60% had cyberbullied another student at school, and 56% had cyberbullied a friend.
•Of those students who had been cyberbullied relatively frequently (at least twice in the last couple of months):
•62% said that they had been cyberbullied by another student at school, and 46% had been cyberbullied by a friend.
•55% didn't know who had cyberbullied them.
•Of those students who admitted cyberbullying others relatively frequently:
•60% had cyberbullied another student at school, and 56% had cyberbullied a friend.
Kids And
Teens Bully Online In Various Ways:
Social Media
Most social media sites have a minimum age requirement of 13. Parents should pay special attention to this. YikYak requires users to 17 and older.
There are social media sites for younger children such as Disney, Club Penguin, YourSphere, Sweety High, KidzWorld and others.
Social Media
Most social media sites have a minimum age requirement of 13. Parents should pay special attention to this. YikYak requires users to 17 and older.
There are social media sites for younger children such as Disney, Club Penguin, YourSphere, Sweety High, KidzWorld and others.
·
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Vine Google+, Kik, Yik Yak, Wanelo, Ask.fm, Whisper, Ooovoo, Yo., WhatsApp and Omegle
Teens' favorite digital hangouts
change from time to time and currently many teens are shying away from
Facebook, but the fact is that one-stop shopping for all social-networking
needs are over. Teens divide their attention between a whole host of apps and
tools that let them write, share, video-chat, and even shop for the latest
trends.
·
Facebook Messenger is
an app that lets Facebook users text, voice message, send
video or photos instantly, or call contacts from their mobile devices. The
text-like messages, voice messages, and phone calls (to other Facebook users)
are free, even internationally. Users' phones give a sound or light
notification when they get a message, and they can see when someone else has
viewed the messages they send. Notifications can be turned off, but the user
remains logged in. Users can send messages to individuals privately or to
groups that they've created. Unless the location notification is turned off,
anyone who receives a message can see on a map where the sender
is.
·
YouTube can
pose a challenge because anyone can create them. They pop up out of nowhere,
don't follow program schedules, and they're cast out among thousands of other
videos. YouTube has a huge impact on kids and you'll learn a lot about what
they are tuning into. Parents should turn on the safety mode. Most kids find
out about new videos either from their friends or by clicking on the related
videos (which may not always be appropriate). But YouTube offers several ways
to hone in on quality content. Visit YouTube Nation
for curated content in a variety of categories. Read about
YouTube news on YouTube’s
company blog, and find out what's trending all over the country on
the Map and the Dashboard.
·
Instant
Messaging/Text Messaging Harassment
- Sending hateful or threatening messages to
other kids
- Kids send death threats using IM, text-messaging, photos and videos
- Kids gang up on their victim in text wars or text attacks. They send hundreds or thousands of text-messages to the victim's cell phone or other mobile device, resulting in a large cell phone bill and angry parents.
- Texting or Warning Wars kicks someone else offline for an extended period because ISP's offer a way of "telling on" a user who uses the Internet for inappropriate behavior, remarks and language.
- A kid may create a screen name that is very similar to another kid's name but add or remove an extra vowel. Then they use this name to say disparaging things to other users while posing as the other person.
- Kids send death threats using IM, text-messaging, photos and videos
- Kids gang up on their victim in text wars or text attacks. They send hundreds or thousands of text-messages to the victim's cell phone or other mobile device, resulting in a large cell phone bill and angry parents.
- Texting or Warning Wars kicks someone else offline for an extended period because ISP's offer a way of "telling on" a user who uses the Internet for inappropriate behavior, remarks and language.
- A kid may create a screen name that is very similar to another kid's name but add or remove an extra vowel. Then they use this name to say disparaging things to other users while posing as the other person.
Web
Sites
Kids can create Web sites that could humiliate or endanger another kid. They post photos, videos and all kinds of personal information (such as phone numbers, address, etc.) which could endanger the kid who is the victim.
Kids can create Web sites that could humiliate or endanger another kid. They post photos, videos and all kinds of personal information (such as phone numbers, address, etc.) which could endanger the kid who is the victim.
Sending
Pictures through E-mail and Cell Phones
Cell phones allow kids to send pictures to each
other. Generally these aren't just regular photos. They
are embarassing photos and nude photos which can end up in everyone's
address book. Sending nude photos is called sexting
Internet
Polling
A perfect way for kids to create more rumor! Asking Who's a Slut? Who's Not? And kids poll to answer.
Interactive Gaming
Games like X Box Live and Sony Play Station 2 Network allow your kids to communicate by chat and live Internet phone with anyone they find themselves matched with in a game online. Sometimes the kids verbally abuse the other kids, using threats and lewd language. Sometimes they take it further, by locking them out of games, passing false rumors about them or hacking into their accounts.
If you think kids couldn't possibly be this cruel -- think again! It happens all the time. Some reports of Cyberbullies are as young as 7 or 8 years-old.
Parents Should:
Be aware ... get involved! As mentioned earlier -- Speak The Lingo and Know The Game!
While there is no one solution, learn everything about the Internet and what your kids are doing online. Parent and schools must address Cyberbullying, as much as they must address face to face bullying. Schools can be effective in partnering with parents to stop and solve Cyberbullying problems. Students should be taught in school about cyberethics and the law. To avoid law suits, schools should make an addendum to their acceptable use policy, and reserve the right to discipline students for actions taken off-campus if they are intended to have an effect on a student or they adversely affect the safety and well-being of student while in school. Then it is no longer a constitutional issue. Most kids won't even tell their parents about a Cyberbullying incident because they're afraid it will make everything worse.
A perfect way for kids to create more rumor! Asking Who's a Slut? Who's Not? And kids poll to answer.
Interactive Gaming
Games like X Box Live and Sony Play Station 2 Network allow your kids to communicate by chat and live Internet phone with anyone they find themselves matched with in a game online. Sometimes the kids verbally abuse the other kids, using threats and lewd language. Sometimes they take it further, by locking them out of games, passing false rumors about them or hacking into their accounts.
If you think kids couldn't possibly be this cruel -- think again! It happens all the time. Some reports of Cyberbullies are as young as 7 or 8 years-old.
Parents Should:
Be aware ... get involved! As mentioned earlier -- Speak The Lingo and Know The Game!
While there is no one solution, learn everything about the Internet and what your kids are doing online. Parent and schools must address Cyberbullying, as much as they must address face to face bullying. Schools can be effective in partnering with parents to stop and solve Cyberbullying problems. Students should be taught in school about cyberethics and the law. To avoid law suits, schools should make an addendum to their acceptable use policy, and reserve the right to discipline students for actions taken off-campus if they are intended to have an effect on a student or they adversely affect the safety and well-being of student while in school. Then it is no longer a constitutional issue. Most kids won't even tell their parents about a Cyberbullying incident because they're afraid it will make everything worse.
Parents should Google your child's name and see if there is anything
being said about your child on the Internet. You can also create a Google Alert with your child's name so that
everytime something is said about your child you will receive an email.
Victim's parents should be supportive of their
child. Parents may be tempted to tell their kids to toughen up, that names
never hurt anybody, yet – cyber attacks can harm a child easily and have a long
lasting effect. Millions of cyber accomplices can help target or humiliate your
child. That emotional pain is very serious and very real! Do not ignore it!
Alert the school and guidance counselor to watch
out for in-school bullying and see how your child is handling things. It is
important that you give your child love, support, nurturing and security.
Children have committed suicide after having been Cyberbullied. Take it
seriously!
You should immediately contact your local law
enforcement agency (not the FBI) if you have any knowledge that personal
contact information has been posted online, or any threats have been made to
your child.
SAVE all proof of the cyberbullying. Save in an
email folder, in your favorites if it involves a web site and print everything
out.
Although print-outs are not sufficient evidence
of proof of Cyberbullying, you should bring a print-out of all instances to
show them. You will need electronic evidence and live data for proof.
Educating kids about the consequences helps --
especially if they know they could lose their ISP and IM accounts.
Cyberbullying is a crime in some states. It's also a crime to publish something that is “libelous” – meaning writing something insulting or something that could harm someone's reputation.
Cyberbullying is a crime in some states. It's also a crime to publish something that is “libelous” – meaning writing something insulting or something that could harm someone's reputation.
Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have
Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) that define privileges and guidelines for users
and the actions that can be taken for violated guidelines.
ISPs and cell phone service providers can help
clients track down the appropriate service provider in response to Cyber
Bullying.
If Your
Child is a Cyberbully
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, law enforcement can get your information. The parents of Cyberbullies may be liable for the mental health and emotional damages caused by their child to another child. If the cyberbullies parents is aware of the situation or has received a letter of complaint, then they have “knowledge and notice” of harmful activity. By paying for the telephone bill and internet charges in their home – they are legally responsible for the acts of their children while on the computer and in their care. Parents can be sued for damages.
According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, law enforcement can get your information. The parents of Cyberbullies may be liable for the mental health and emotional damages caused by their child to another child. If the cyberbullies parents is aware of the situation or has received a letter of complaint, then they have “knowledge and notice” of harmful activity. By paying for the telephone bill and internet charges in their home – they are legally responsible for the acts of their children while on the computer and in their care. Parents can be sued for damages.
School administrators should be informed about
the cyberbullying which your child is a victim of. If cyberbullying takes place
during school time or on school computers, the schools come under the
“knowledge and notice” rule.
If a victim of cyberbullying is being threatened with assault or being beaten up or beaten down while they are in school, the schools must take responsibility for activities that follow a child from their home to their school.
If a victim of cyberbullying is being threatened with assault or being beaten up or beaten down while they are in school, the schools must take responsibility for activities that follow a child from their home to their school.
We must insist on NO TOLERANCE of any bullying --
whether it's face to face or through technology. By teaching kids kindness,
compassion and respect and why it's important, we can stop all forms of
bullying.
Teach kids to speak out against bullies. Teach them that by keeping silent about their knowledge of Cyberbullying against other kids is not acceptable.
Teach your child how important it is to immediately tell you or the school if they see communications in which another teenager is threatening violence or suicide.
Teach kids to speak out against bullies. Teach them that by keeping silent about their knowledge of Cyberbullying against other kids is not acceptable.
Teach your child how important it is to immediately tell you or the school if they see communications in which another teenager is threatening violence or suicide.
Encourage your child to be part of the solution
against all forms of bullying!
Kids who report cyber bullying may be saving someone’s life!
Signs of your child being Cyberbullied:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anger or Fear
- Not wanting to go to school
- Changes in their grades
- Avoiding friends
- Hesitation to use their computer
If the Cyberbullying becomes serious and won't stop:
- Contact the police
- Contact an attorney or file a small claims action - Civil law provides for victims to sue a bully or the bully’s parents to recover damages.
Kids who report cyber bullying may be saving someone’s life!
Signs of your child being Cyberbullied:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anger or Fear
- Not wanting to go to school
- Changes in their grades
- Avoiding friends
- Hesitation to use their computer
If the Cyberbullying becomes serious and won't stop:
- Contact the police
- Contact an attorney or file a small claims action - Civil law provides for victims to sue a bully or the bully’s parents to recover damages.
Kids Who
Are Being Cyberbullied Should:
- Don't do anything. Take a deep breath and calm down.
- Block the cyberbully or limit all communications to those on your buddy list.
- Save the harassing messages and forward them to your ISP.
- Tell a trusted adult!
- Don't do anything. Take a deep breath and calm down.
- Block the cyberbully or limit all communications to those on your buddy list.
- Save the harassing messages and forward them to your ISP.
- Tell a trusted adult!
There is help, there is hope --- all you need to
do is be brave, be smart and be proactive!
·
Some kids have actually posted pornographic
pictures on sites and programs for anyone to download. This is against the law.
In some states your child could become a registered sex offender.
·
Sending explicit messages or photos photos
electronically is considered sexting
-- (a combination of sex and texting). This is primarily done between cell
phones. It shows poor judgment when using digital technology by sending an
image, video or text message of an explicit (adult) or risque nature to another
individual. This is against the law and could result in arrest in some states.
E-mails like these get passed around to hundreds of others -- going viral and ending up everywhere in cyberspace.
Impersonation
Posing as the victim, Cyberbullies may post erotic or suggestive messages in a hate group's chatroom posing as the victim -- inviting an attack against them. They give the name, address and phone number of the victim to make the hate group's job easier. They might even send a message to someone posing as the victim, saying hateful or threatening things while masquerading as the victim. And they often alter a message actually from the victim, making it seem that they have said something horrible.
Sending Malicious Code
Kids can send viruses, spyware and hacking programs to their victims to destroy their computers or spy on their victim. If the Cyberbully uses a Trojan Horse program they can control their victim's computer remote control, and erase the hard drive.
Sending Porn and Other Junk E-Mail and IMs
Cyberbullies may sign their victims up for numerous e-mailing and IM marketing lists which creates mass emails for the victim. They even sign them up for porn sites.
Blogs
These online journals are a way for kids to damage other kids' reputations or invade their privacy. Sometimes kids set up a blog or profile page pretending to be their victim and saying things to humiliate them.
Stealing Passwords
- Kids can steal the password and lock the victim out of their own account.
- Kids may use another kid's password to change his/her profile and write sexual, racist and disparaging remarks about that person.
- Kids may steal another kid's password and chat with others pretending to be the other kid. They can say mean things to this person's friends or other people.
- Kids can give or sell the password to a hacker to hack into the victim's computer
E-mails like these get passed around to hundreds of others -- going viral and ending up everywhere in cyberspace.
Impersonation
Posing as the victim, Cyberbullies may post erotic or suggestive messages in a hate group's chatroom posing as the victim -- inviting an attack against them. They give the name, address and phone number of the victim to make the hate group's job easier. They might even send a message to someone posing as the victim, saying hateful or threatening things while masquerading as the victim. And they often alter a message actually from the victim, making it seem that they have said something horrible.
Sending Malicious Code
Kids can send viruses, spyware and hacking programs to their victims to destroy their computers or spy on their victim. If the Cyberbully uses a Trojan Horse program they can control their victim's computer remote control, and erase the hard drive.
Sending Porn and Other Junk E-Mail and IMs
Cyberbullies may sign their victims up for numerous e-mailing and IM marketing lists which creates mass emails for the victim. They even sign them up for porn sites.
Blogs
These online journals are a way for kids to damage other kids' reputations or invade their privacy. Sometimes kids set up a blog or profile page pretending to be their victim and saying things to humiliate them.
Stealing Passwords
- Kids can steal the password and lock the victim out of their own account.
- Kids may use another kid's password to change his/her profile and write sexual, racist and disparaging remarks about that person.
- Kids may steal another kid's password and chat with others pretending to be the other kid. They can say mean things to this person's friends or other people.
- Kids can give or sell the password to a hacker to hack into the victim's computer
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Don't be one of these folks...
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Rehtaeh Parsons was my daughter
My daughter was three years old when we went to watch Babe: Pig in the City. There’s a part in the movie when Babe knocks over a goldfish bowl and the fish falls onto the floor and starts flopping around. When this happened Rae suddenly stood up on her chair in the movie theatre and started screaming for someone to help the fish. She cried for it as I tried to reassure her Babe would help (thank God he did) and that the fish would be alright.That was the nature of my daughter Rehtaeh. She was like that her whole life. I couldn’t go for a walk in Halifax with her without her asking me for change to give to someone in need. She was always looking out for people or animals that needed help. She called Animal Control Services on our neighbors because they left their dog outside too long. Her room and her life was always full of little creatures.
Sometimes her heart was too big, sometimes it scared me.
They say parents need to teach their children. Instead, it was Rehtaeh who was my teacher. My precious gift. She was the absolute best part of my life.
Rehtaeh
and one of her many, many pets I tried to keep it all for her, to have someday when she grew up and had her own family. That day will never come.
Rehtaeh died April 7th at 11:15 PM. She was 17 years old.
She died struggling to live, much as she spent the last 18 months. She hung on right to the very end, when the nurses were telling us if she couldn’t be declared brain dead soon they couldn’t use her as an organ donor. We couldn’t wait any longer. She couldn’t live any longer. And right at the last moment there was a change in her blood pressure as the last part of her brain gave away. She knew she had to leave. It was time to let go and find peace.
It was so like her to hang on right up until the very last second. To give us all a chance to hold her hand, wipe her tears away, and kiss her beautiful face for the last time.
I tried my best to save my daughter’s life. I believe that in my heart.
I asked her repeatedly what I could do, was I doing enough, what did she want from me? She said she just wanted me to be her dad. To make her laugh. To do everything possible to keep a part of her life normal. She said it helped more than I could ever know.
I prayed for the best while I prepared her for the worst. We went to counseling together. Sometimes I was the drive, sometimes the father, sometimes the counselor.
The worst nightmare of my life has just begun. I loved my beautiful baby with all my heart. She meant everything to me. I felt her heart beating in my soul from the moment she was born until the moment she died. We were a team. We were best pals. We often sat on my couch and laughed until we could hardly speak. When we weren’t together she would call me or text me every single day, just to say hi, to say she loved me. The life I had with my daughter was a rare thing. It was wonderful, it consumed me. I was defined by it. It made my life rich and beautiful.
She was amazing.
Yesterday I looked at another wooden box. It will hold her ashes. I hate it.
I had to write something about this. I don’t want her life to defined by a Google search about suicide or death or rape. I want it to be about the giving heart she had. Her smile. Her love of life and the beautiful way in which she lived it.
I found out this afternoon my daughter saved the life of a young woman with her heart. How fitting.
She also gave someone a new liver, a kidney, a new breath, and a new chance to love. She saved the lives of four people with her final gift of life. She was that wonderful.
Someone out there is going to look at the world with my daughter’s eyes. The most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.
To the Justice Minister of Nova Scotia
Rehtaeh Parsons thought the worst outcome for her case would be no charges against the men who raped her but we all know better. The worst thing that could happen would be charges. That they would be found guilty, and that Rehtaeh would sit on a court bench and listen in utter disbelief as they were given parole, or a suspended sentence, or community service. All for completely destroying her life while they laughed.
Why is it they didn’t just think they would get away with it; they knew they would get away with it. They took photos of it. They posted it on their Facebook walls. They emailed it to God knows who. They shared it with the world as if it was a funny animation.
How is it possible for someone to leave a digital trail like that yet the RCMP don’t have evidence of a crime? What were they looking for if photos and bragging weren’t enough?
Why was this treated like a minor incident of bullying rather than a rape? Isn’t the production and distribution of child porn a crime in this country? Numerous people were emailed that photo. The police have that information (or at least they told us they did). When someone claims they were raped is it normal to wait months before talking to the accused?
You have the opportunity here to do something good and lets face it; the court system in Nova Scotia was just going to rape her all over again with indifference to her suffering and the damage this did to her.
My daughter wasn’t bullied to death, she was disappointed to death. Disappointed in people she thought she could trust, her school, and the police.
She was my daughter, but she was your daughter too.
For the love of God do something.
***I’ve been contacted from media outlets from all over the world and as a past member of the media I understand why you all want to speak with me. You have all been very courteous, professional, and respectful. Please know, however, this is the only statement I am able to make. I’m to devastated.***
I feel like I’m dead inside.
On
the couch, goofing off 
On
one of our walks along the waterfront.http://glencanning.com/2013/04/rehtaeh-parsons-was-my-daughter/
Anonymous –
Halifax
Thank you Anonymous
I
want to say thank you to Anonymous for getting involved in my daughters
case. Thank you for being the driving force behind the *new information
that came forward and thank you for your continued support for bringing
the four men who raped and ultimately murdered my daughter to justice.I won’t forget this.
*New as in it’s been available to the RCMP since this happened if they only gave a damn and made an effort to get it.
#Opjustice4Rehtaeh
@YourAnonNews
AnonNews – Everything Anonymous
Justice for Rehtaeh: Demand an independent inquiry into the police investigation.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — April 12, 2013 – 12PM GMT
Greetings from Anonymous.
Please be aware of the following facts:
1) One of the alleged rapists has made several public statements admitting that he did have sex with Raetaeh on the night in question. He admits she was inebriated at the time, also that she was throwing up during the act.
2) During his confession, he names three other boys and admits that they too took turns having sex with Rahtaeh that night as well. The names match with those we have confirmed during our investigation.
3) The individual making this confession is the same boy identified in the photograph. He has also admitted to being in the photograph and named the accomplice who took the picture.
4) All information, including screenshots of the confession, have been made available to the police.
5) Two boys have been implicated repeatedly whom we believe are innocent based on numerous testimonies given by individuals with first hand knowledge of the surrounding events.
6) There are multiple witnesses who were classmates of the alleged rapists that can confirm they were shown the photograph of Rehtaeh by them.
7) At the very least, there was a house with a minimum of half a dozen underage students consuming alcohol and engaging in sexual intercourse. What happened in this house resulting in the spread of child pornography. This much the police will agree to. No charges have been filed in regards to this.
Why is Anonymous involved in this case? We are involved because the facts above clearly illustrate that several crimes have been committed in Nova Scotia. A 17-year-old girl killed herself because the police failed to do their jobs and charge a single person for any of them.
An image of a 15-year-old girl having sex was viral in Cole Harbour District High School. Neither the school nor the police dispute this. By legal definition that image was child pornography. By some estimates, hundreds of individuals have already seen the photograph, including many adults. The police have seen the photograph. The fact that this evidence was disregarded as inappropriate for any kind of arrest by the police is unconscionable.
What the police are saying to the citizens of Nova Scotia is clear: Having underage students drinking and having sex in your home is not a crime in our community. Photographs of 15-year-old girls having sex is not child pornography, but if it is, the distribution of that child pornography is not a crime. A 15-year-old girl is capable of giving her consent to sex even after she is inebriated to the point that she vomits while hanging out of a window–it is not sexual assault.
We urge the RCMP to act like guardians , set the proper example for the young men of Nova Scotia and send a clear message: This behavior will not be tolerated in our communities. The women and young girls of Nova Scotia should not have to live in fear or be forced to hide evidence of a rape because they will be called whores.
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http://glencanning.com/2013/04/thank-you-anonymous/
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NOVA SCOTIA-
Tragedies cry out for children’s ‘champion’
BOB PARKER
Published August 11, 2015 - 4:32pm
“A
Champion for Children and Youth will not eliminate all future deaths of at-risk
children and youth in Nova Scotia,” writes Bob Parker. “It would, however, send
a strong message to everyone involved in the child-serving system — that even
if it is impossible to prevent every child death, we should always keep
trying.” (FOTOLIA)
Few experiences in life trigger the raw emotions
and shared grief that accompanies the death of a child in a community. No
matter the circumstances, we understand each child death as a tragedy because
it goes against our most hopeful instincts about how human lives are supposed
to unfold. Every child’s death is a horrible injustice because of what children
represent to us: joy, innocence, unconditional love, the future and so much
more.
While this is true with the loss of any child,
our sense of tragedy and injustice is intensified if we believe that any
particular child’s death could have been prevented with timelier or more
effective intervention (whether by a caregiver, a bystander, or the child
protection system).
Sadly, the 2010 death of a two-year-old Kentville
toddler (see Aug. 4 editorial) is a perfect example. The Nova Scotia Ombudsman’s
review of the case found what such reviews nearly always find: poor
communication across government agencies, inadequate systems of
information-sharing, misidentification of risk, and missed opportunities to
provide support to a struggling family.
The acting Ombudsman, Christine Delisle-Brennan,
was correct not to assign blame to specific individuals or agencies. This was a
collective and systemic failure. To single out any person or group as uniquely
responsible would be to ignore the many flaws of the child protection, social
service, and justice frameworks that govern this extremely difficult work.
Delisle-Brennan should also be commended for
continuing her push for independent oversight of child deaths. Nova Scotians
need to trust that all death reviews will be comprehensive in their approach,
that they will be free from managerial or political interference, and that the
final results will always be made public.
With all that said, let’s not waste too much time
or energy on the make-up of child death review committees. If we truly wish to
hold government more accountable for child and youth safety, we can and should
go much further.
Nova Scotia is long overdue in creating a
platform for what I’ll call a “Champion for Children and Youth.” To have the
necessary impact, this Champion should:
• Be granted full status as an independent
officer of the provincial legislature, which is the only way to insulate the
Champion’s Office from government decision-makers of the day;
• Have sole responsibility to perform oversight
of the provincial child protection system and the broader “child-serving
system” (including child- and youth-targeted services delivered through
Justice, Health, Community Services, Education, and the web of
government-funded service providers);
• Be appropriately and sustainably funded to
fulfil its mandate — a base annual budget of up to $2 million is a reasonable
estimate of the costs involved.
Similar officers exist in most other Canadian
provinces (excepting P.E.I.) — some are called ombudsman, others are advocates,
representatives or commissioners — but all serve the critical role of holding
governments to account for the services delivered to children- and
youth-in-care (as well as other vulnerable children and youth).
I am honoured, at present, to serve as chair of
Nova Scotia’s Coalition of Community Child Welfare Boards — a group of tireless
volunteers from across the province that has been promoting the “Champion”
concept for many years, to multiple governments representing all three major
political parties. We have not been alone.
Dating back to the 1990s, several reports from
the Auditor General’s Office have called for an independent legislative officer
for children and youth. And on these very pages, in 2013, then-Ombudsman Dwight
Bishop acknowledged that while the Ombudsman’s Office could provide much
improved oversight with more funding for its child and youth section, a
dedicated office might be needed to address the increasing scope and complexity
of child and youth issues.
Our belief is that Nova Scotia’s children and
youth are far too important to be one of many priorities for the Ombudsman’s
Office. Our youngest and most vulnerable citizens deserve a full-time champion
with the skills, resources, and proactive mandate to make a real difference in
their lives.
Yes, the Champion’s Office would be responsible
for conducting comprehensive child death reviews whenever necessary. Just as
important, however, the Champion would work continuously to identify child- and
youth-centred service improvements and to promote a much more
prevention-focused child-serving system.
In closing, we should acknowledge that a Champion
for Children and Youth will not eliminate all future deaths of at-risk children
and youth in Nova Scotia. It would, however, send a strong message to everyone
involved in the child-serving system — that even if it is impossible to prevent
every child death, we should always keep trying.
Establishing a Champion for Children and Youth in
Nova Scotia would help to affirm that we actually are trying. And surely it
would give us all one more reason to be hopeful. Who can argue with that?
Bob Parker, Halifax Society for Children, Youth,
and Families
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