Child advocate needs champion

As a victim of sexual child abuse at age 12, I am compelled to ask our media why we have not asked victims how they feel about Prince Edward Island being the only province in Canada without a child advocate office.

We are all guaranteed the same rights under the Constitution, no matter where we live. I have been an advocate for over 25 years and I have asked hundreds of times to have an independent office for child advocacy here on P.E.I. as soon as possible so that the victims of abuse can work properly on recovery issues that need to be dealt with or they will not even begin to start to seek good therapy and/or recovery programs.

Many people have offered to help set up this office here and are hoping to hear from Islanders soon.

I ask Islanders to email or call the prime minister, premier, your MLAs and MPs and see how soon we can help the thousands of Island children who were or are being abused.

I have talked to many people about why we need this office and have been told “there just is not enough money to do it now . . . for over 25 years.”

It is very disheartening to see a victim of sexual child abuse be told there is little or no help.

Experts say that 1 in 3 children are sexually abused by age 16. P.E.I. victims deserve the same rights as the rest of Canada.

Mike Avery,

Fort Augustus