1 in 4 women and 1 in
6 men have experienced sexual abuse during their childhood, and this figure
could be even higher.
Not only were these
experiences horrific to them at the time, but they must live with the effects
of these dreadful crimes throughout their lives.
Victims of sexual
abuse consistently say that there is not enough support available to them, and
that there is insufficient awareness of the trauma they carry every day,
forever.
1 May is an annual
day to remember the victims; to raise awareness of this appalling crime, and to
remind us that sexual abuse can happen to any child, in any community. Sexual abuse does not recognize cultural,
social, linguistic, religious, gender or racial differences. It can happen
anywhere, to anyone.
Not My Shame is the
campaign group that organises this annual event, holding a minute's silence on
this date each year to remember the pain of sexual abuse victims around the
world.
We call upon Cyngor
Gwynedd to recognise this date every year from now on, and to adopt it as a day
of remembrance for victims. We call on
the Council to fly the campaign flag above its headquarters on 1 May every year to clearly state that sexual abuse
is not the victim's shame, it is the offender's shame. We call upon Cyngor Gwynedd to draw public
attention on 1 May every year to the support available to victims, and to
explain to the public how and where they can report sexual abuse or child
protection concerns.