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Until it is safe for abused mothers and children to reach out for help without fearing that the response will be the removal of their children, the fight continues with me! Until the are no more children and mothers being abused, the fight continues with me! PLEASE JOIN US---A CALL TO ACTION TO END CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Casa Atabex Ache & The Fuerza/Power Program has embarked on a Campaign to End Child Sexual Abuse(sexual harassment, rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, relationship abuse) in the lives of young womyn within families, communities & the Child Welfare System (schools, prisons, group homes, & foster care) • What is your experience & impact of violence within the child welfare system on young womyn of color? • What do you think the responsibility of community is when all else fails? • Create a community response to the City & Administration for Children Services, the child welfare system and create a collective voice to stop child abuse (sexual, physical, mental and spiritual). WHAT IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE? We define Child Sexual Abuse as: The emotional, spiritual, sexual, mental, physical abuse of a youth by someone with more power. This includes rape, foundling of genitals, incest, molestation, sexual harassment, sexual assault, verbal abuse, battering, violence related to exploitation, forced sex-work, intimidation in educational institutions, foster care and elsewhere, including threats of such acts of violence, coercion or random denial of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. Child Sexual Abuse also includes coercion to view pornography, watching youth undress, the dating of a youth by an adult for example a 21-year-old male dating a 15-year-old female. In response to this on going violence and human rights violation, we at Casa Atabex Ache have taken up a community based campaign to end all forms of violence against youth. We are concerned about the social and economic conditions that create the sexual exploitation and violation of children and young womyn. We want to create a response & action plan to support the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). We are answering to the call by the ACS for community voices and involvement to create a system that is accountable to ending violence & keeping children safe. OUR Goals: To “End Child Abuse” (sexual, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual) in the Child Welfare System, our communities and in our lives healing from trauma within a holistic model. To reduce and eliminate the harmful impacts of child abuse within childhood, and adulthood. Letter of Concern about Child Sexual Abuse & Past & Recent Deaths in the Foster Care System from Community Voices. Child Sexual Abuse and all forms of family & community violence violates the Human Rights of womyn and children throughout New York City and within the child welfare system. This violence, which is compounded in communities of color need to be addressed in a holistic and socially conscious framework. Our communities are barely surviving because of the daily acts of violence on their mind, body, and spirits the State. The recent murders of Nixzmary Brown & Quachaun Browne leaves us with these question: 1. What are the root causes of violence in our communities? 2. How does poverty, economic disparities, immigration, police brutality, racism, gender violence, and homophobia, affect the decisions that womyn and children make in order to survive? In the case of Nixzmary Brown the issue of Child Sexual Abuse is not being addressed by the Administration for Children Services, the City, or the press, although Cesar Rodriguez her stepfather was charged with first-degree sexual assault. We still ask why is this happening? Nixzmary’s murder & sexual violence is not an isolated case. Sexually abused young womyn of color get re-victimized everyday---in school, at home, in prisons and especially as they transition from home to home in the foster care system. This cycle of violence needs to end and be brought to the forefront of the front pages. Our Community is demanding that the abuse of the human rights of womyn, girls and children get addressed. Our Community is saying no more deaths of our children, no more sexual exploitation of our mothers and daughters, no more neglect of our communities. The silent voices of young Womyn of Color in the child welfare system and in our communities need to be heard. Casa Atabex Ache is committed to the following short term goals: • Give voice to community so that they can break the silence & taboo of Child Abuse • Continuing to provide safe space for healing, liberation, social chanage for young & adult Womyn of Color. • Sharing community stories of trauma, healing and resiliency • Supporting individuals in healing & recovery in a model that is holistic in mind, body & spirit. • Holding community meetings on our child abuse campaign to create social change. • Documenting stories of Child Abuse within the Child Welfare System to educate community so that they can create and hold accountability. BECOME A MEMBER & REGISTER TODAY! Casa Atabex Ache-House of Womyn’s Power 471 East 140th Street, Garden Level Bronx, NY 10454 718-585-5540, www.casaatabexache.org Casa is a safe space for Youth, LGBTQ, Immigrant Communities, Students, Mothers & All Womyn of Color MISSION: Casa Atabex Ache-The House of Womyn's Power fosters re-connection Fuerza/Power is a young womyn’s self empowerment and leadership year round |
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