'The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil
but because of those who look on and do nothing.' Albert Einstein

 

One Child International and Child AbuseWatch advocate on behalf of abused children. Our campaigns are national and international in nature. Here are some the projects we have worked on.

Aug 2012 NEW - Letter to the Olympic Committee requesting the retraction of their invitation to Pete Townshend of the WHO to play at the Olympic Closing Ceremony due to his sex offender status (Read)
 

1. Introduction of Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse in Ireland  (Read)
The introduction of Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse by child care professionals was recommended by the Irish Law Reform Commission Report on Child Sexual Abuse in 1990. Twenty two years, and countless reports on child abuse later, nothing has been done by successive governments to implement mandatory reporting.

In January of 2012 One Child International began to fill that gap by issuing a 'Guide to Mandatory Reporting' (read) which states who, when and under what circumstances abuse should be reported and to whom. Copies were sent in February to all members of the Dail (Congress), the Senate, the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Cabinet Ministers, all of the heads of the child advocacy NGOs in Dublin, Teacher trade union representatives, Archbishop Martin, and the media. Included was an invitation to request additional copies for distribution to colleagues and constituents free of charge.

The launch of the guide by One Child is one step in the right direction. The next step is to get a copy into the hands of every parent in Ireland, which is One Child International's goal.

2. Inform (Ireland) Campaign: Changing the way we think about child protection (Read)
Among a number of programs in Ireland One Child International submitted a proposal to the Irish Government to provide child protection and abuse prevention information to every house hold in Ireland. The purpose is to ensure that the public is adequately informed about how to protect their children. An information campaign is the cornerstone of any child protection policy.
The Irish Government has spent in excess of Euro130 million on compiling reports of child sexual abuse over the past 10 years. Read more
The protection and prevention package consists of these three brochures (pdf) (Read)
Initial media coverage on October 17, 2010 from News of the World Ireland (Read)
Receive free copies of the package by emailing your name and address to info@abusewatch.net
Irish police ignore child protection assistance from One Child Int'l/Irish Examiner 071111 (Read)

3. 'Inform' campaign: Child Sexual Abuse Explained (for concerned parents)
    2010 - 2012
This campaign is the result of feedback we have received from law enforcement and child advocates who are frustrated about the poor quality of information available to parents about child sexual abuse. It is presented in the form of a multi-language brochure (see pdf here) which explains in plain language all about child sexual abuse. The brochure puts aside safe language and allows readers to see, perhaps for the first time, the various and harsh aspects of this type of abuse. The campaign is free to the end user be that a member of the public, victim services advocates, law enforcement, health departments, rape crisis centers. The initial print run was allocated on four days. The brochure is available in English, Spanish, Irish, German, Portuguese, French and Hebrew. Get a free copy by sending your name and address to info@abusewatch.net. Larger quantities of 50 or 400 are available at no charge.

4. Our response to Judicial opposition to mandatory sentencing for child
    pornography possessors.
In May 2010 and August 2010 the media reported on two judges (One Federal and one County Superior) who objected to the imposition of mandatory sentences to those found guilty of possessing child pornography – images of children being raped and molested.
Each time that this has arisen we have written to the media outlet and the judge involved to explain why child pornography possession is a serious crime. We make a distinction between erotica – images of children naked or scantily dressed – and pornography. We do this as erotica is used by perpetrators, and defense council, to muddy the waters in the discussion of what constitutes pornography.  It is an attempt to divert attention away from the reality of real pornographic images. In each case we have provided the judges in question with our material which clearly describes what child pornography is. We do this to leave them in no doubt as to the critical and serious nature of the crime of – and punishment for – child pornography possession.
Open Letter to Superior Court Judge Eddie Rodriguez Jr. regarding his opposition to mandatory sentencing for the possession of child pornography (link includes articles) (Read)
‘Child pornography possession is not a victimless crime’ – article,  letter to Federal Judge
Jack Weinstein (Read)

5. Letter to Irish Bishop Dennis Brennan (Read) March 2010
In response to Bishop Brennan's decision to seek funds from parishioners to pay for the cost of defending child abuse cases, Child AbuseWatch wrote to him.  We advised him of the injustice of his asking the very people who had been abused to pay for the costs involved. No response received; letter was published in a newspaper in the Bishops parish. A copy was sent to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in Dublin.

6. Pete Townshend, the NFL and the Super Bowl XLIV half time Show (Read) 2009 -2010
In the Fall of 2009 the National Football League announced that they had invited the British band the WHO to play the half time show at the upcoming Super Bowl XLIV half time show in Miami. Child AbuseWatch wrote to Roger Goodell  the EVP of the NFL and Mark Emkes, President of the shows sponsor Bridgestone objecting to the invitation of Pete Townhend to paly. Townshend is a UK registered sex offender, a result of his pleading guilty to accessing online child pornography. Letters were also sent Mr. Shoshi Arakawa, Bridgestone Chairman in Japan all of the shows sponsors highlighting the fact that they were knowingly hiring a child ex offender. The news was picked up by the media around the U.S. and the world. An estimated audience of 33 million people listened or read details of the objection. Countless radio and TV interviews were given in the U.S. and Internationally. The campaign was joined by child advocacy group Protect Our Children and received extensive support from Brave Kids Voices.

7. Roman Polanski: film director, producer, actor, pedophile 2009 - 2010 (Read)

8. TLC/Discovery Jon & Kate plus 8. (Read) 2009 - 2010
In 2009 Child AbuseWatch objected to the use of the Gosselin children in the J&K+8 show. The children were not recognized as actors, rather as participants. As such they were un-protected by state law.  TLC had not received child labor permits to ensure the children's interests - including compensation - would be overseen by a third party.  CAN further objected to the televising of the parents divorce and the ensuing emotional abuse that this caused the Gosselin children. In 2010 TLC received adequate permitting and the children are now represented. The original show was taken off the air in the Fall of 2009 and has been replaced with a new one without the dad.

9. Pete Townshend and the WHO received the Kennedy center award (Read) Dec 2008
The WHO were given an award by the Kennedy Center. Child AbuseWatch wrote to the center to object as Pete Townshend was a registered sex offender in the UK for the possession of child pornography.
His explanation that he was 'doing research' when he plead guilty to possessing child pornography is now known in law enforcement circles as the 'Townshend defense.'

10. Hewlett Packard "Touch' Ad Campaign used music by UK pedophile Gary Glitter (Read) Fall 2008
In the Fall of 2008 Hewlett Packard launched their new 'Touch' screen TV. A multi-million dollar campaign was rolled out. The background music they used was, suitably, 'Do you wanna touch?' composed by Gary Glitter and performed by Joan Jett. Child AbuseWatch wrote to Mark Hurd, the CEO of HP and their board of directors advising them that the songs composer and the beneficiary of royalties, Gary Glitter was a convicted pedophile and child abuser who had recently been released from jail in the Far East. We requested that in light of this information they remove the song. When they did not respond we told them that we would provide a press release to the media voicing our concerns about the song's use, the payment of royalties to a child sex offender and HP's lack of response. A press release was issued and was picked up world wide by over 300 media outlets leading to HP's withdrawal of the commercial. Extensive media coverage was provided in the UK.