Never forget the victims of abuse

To the editor:

In response to Mary Davidson'sFeb. 21 letter to the editor, "A win against sexual abuse," I really like the fact that she has brought this issue to the attention of readers.

Sexual assault/abuse in our society is highly stigmatized; we always tend to blame the victim more so than the abuser and I'm glad to see that in this situation the rapist will suffer the consequences of his action. In a way, we have created a society that doesn't punish rape like the awful cruelty that it is and this is very dangerous.

As Davidson mentions, these children (and other older victims of abuse) fall into a pattern and seem to be at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives, some turning to drugs or other types of unhealthy outlets for distress. This type of sexual trauma leaves victims damaged, and they will forever be shaped by their experiences.

When people who commit sexual assault are not given strict, serious sentences, then it can lead to prevalent acts of sexual violence against people. We as a society should stop fueling these acts of violence in mainstream media, as well as pushing for stricter sentences for abusers and start encouraging justice.

HANNAH WALKER

Danville