As far as manifestations go, the one on Friday afternoon was a five-star, and I don’t mean it lightly, I am serious, as far as I see it, it achieved 100% of its goals.
It was bigger than expected. It unfolded without incident. Cops and protesters got along. Organizers expressed themselves on a public platform. A good number of demonstrators wore facemasks. The MinPres and other GOA officials were on hand to show support. Dramatic testimonials added color and urgency to the spectacle. Most importantly, the issue of child abuse was represented with dignity, and GOA predictably promised to act, change laws, correct malfunctions.
The Ta Basta manifestation ended with hand-shakes, and pats on the back.
I was proud.
We are a civilized nation.
MinPres is good. We’re lucky to have her. She strikes the right note every time, dressed in black she intuitively knows how to handle a kneeling survivor, and another with blue finger nail polish, at close proximity. That was tough. Poise under fire.
Now to the issue at hand.
As you all know, for the past 30 years, money that was earmarked for social programs went into bridge opening parties, trams, election campaigns and coordinators.
The money was diverted and misspent. We’re all suffering from that social dysfunction caused by unaddressed social issues, and the lack of care, caused by wasted collective resources.
Castigo mas pisa will not solve anything. We must improve the way we investigate and present evidence to the judges so that they can then with a clear conscience impose a heavy sentence. When the investigation is botched and the evidence weak a judge would rather acquit then send a suspect to jail for ten years.
As it stands right now, with UNTRAINED AND UNDERFUNDED police special crime agents, and social workers, we must rely on our judges, to evaluate the evidence. The only reason they impose a light sentence is weak evidence, incomplete story.
Cases of child abuse need to be investigated properly, delicately, professionally, if not, a life is destroyed, and nothing happens. In order to make it safe for kids we need to practice prevention by an optimal, functional social justice chain, from teachers to councilors and child advocates, all trained to recognize even the faintest sign.
That requires resources. As in money.
Resources that are presently being squandered. We are reminding you that GOA’s payroll is 1.3M florin a day!
How much of that goes to welfare and care?
How much goes to a corrective social justice chain?
From a Legal Eagle, a beautifully written opinion: I believe that decisions about sentencing should be made by the courts, taking into account all circumstances of the case. These include not only the seriousness of the offense but also the personal circumstances of the defendant.
Increasing the maximum sentences is in my opinion a cheap populist move by our parliament, since the courts are still going to sentence based on the criteria mentioned above.
I believe it is a social problem that requires more (sex) education of parents and children, more involvement of social workers and creating more awareness of family members and children rather than stricter sentences.
The problem is wider than just the offenders. It is the culture of silence and shame within families on a small island, where women and girls are in a financially and economic position of dependence.
It is indeed shameful.
We, as a society, should look in the mirror and not just project our wrath towards the offender as being the root of all evil.
It takes a family, an extended family, a village and an island to make this better.
Not just harsher sentences, handed down by a judge.
P.S. Without new evidence, one cannot ask the court to reopen the case of Eugene, 3, and Rishandroh, 5, RIP.
