Moncton Sexual Abuse Lawyer
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we appreciate how difficult it can be to discuss abuse. It can take many years for survivors of sexual abuse to feel comfortable addressing past trauma, and seeking justice for the crimes committed against them. No matter how far in the past sexual abuse occurred, survivors in Moncton are eligible to pursue restitution from their abusers and, in some situations, the company or entity who employed the abuser or otherwise fostered a culture of abuse within their organization.
Consent is an agreement made between adults. It is an active, ongoing, and clearly understood agreement. During a sexual encounter, consent can be revoked at any time for any reason. Any sexual activity that takes place without consent is considered sexual abuse, or in the civil context, sexual battery.
Children are not capable of giving informed consent for sexual activity. In this country, the age of consent is sixteen years old. However, a teenager who has reached the age of consent but is still under eighteen years old cannot give informed consent to an adult upon whom they depend, or who holds a position of authority or trust in their life. If an adult in a position of trust, authority, or upon whom a minor is dependent engages in sexual activity with a minor, even if they have reached the federally mandated age of consent, the adult has committed sexual abuse.
This can occur when family members, foster parents, guards at juvenile detention facilities, teachers, sports coaches, religious figures, camp counsellors, and other adults who have influence over minors exploit the power imbalance in their relationship to engage in sexual activity with the young people in their care. This reprehensible crime is a form of non-consensual sexual activity referred to as sexual exploitation.
Sexual exploitation and other forms of sexual abuse often takes place within a larger organization, such as schools, extra-curricular programs, sports leagues, correctional facilities, religious institutions, and others. If the organization becomes aware that one or more of its employees has abused the young, vulnerable, or otherwise dependent people they have been paid to take care of, they have an obligation to report the crime to the police. Failing to report the crime or take actions to remove the perpetrator of sexual abuse from their position of power within their organization may, in fact, foster the ideal conditions for the abuser to continue preying on and exploiting those in their care. This is referred to as systemic, or institutional sexual abuse.
When organizations allow this criminal behaviour to continue within their institution by neglecting to remove sexual abusers from their employment, they may be considered liable for damages incurred by the victims of abuse within their charge.
Being victimized may cause people to develop severe mental health issues as a result of the abuse they endured. Often debilitating in nature, the mental, emotional, and psychological effects of surviving sexual abuse may lead to lost educational opportunities, reduced future earning capacities, high costs of psychiatric treatments, and other financial losses. These typically stem from severe mental health crises commonly experienced by survivors of sexual abuse, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Shame
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of self-worth
- Self-destructive behaviours
- Attempted or completed suicide
- And possibly more
If you are in distress, contact the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 833-456-4566.
If you were the victim of sexual abuse, either recently or in the past, our sexual abuse lawyers serving Moncton may be able to help pursue accountability and financial compensation from the perpetrator, and possibly, from their employer at the time of the abuse. To learn how Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help, book a free, initial consultation with our Moncton sexual abuse lawyers.
Free Consultation for Moncton Residents – We Don’t Get Paid Unless We Win
Our sexual abuse lawyers serving Moncton are passionate about helping people in need. That is why your initial consultation with our Moncton sexual abuse lawyers is always free. To discuss your situation and learn about options that may be available to you, book your free, no-obligation consultation with our sexual abuse lawyers serving Moncton today.
