http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/child-protection/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/human-headline-might-have-a-point-on-naming-offenders/ Derryn Hinch is at it again, naming a convicted paedophile, and this time complicating matters by also naming his victim. He claims he had her permission, she claims he did not. It’s messy. It’s a habit of Hinch’s which has seen him jailed, subjected to house arrest, and even go all the way to the High Court. Aside from his health battles, defying suppression orders on sex offenders is the thing he’s most famous for. On Monday during his Melbourne radio program Hinch named a Sydney property developer, convicted of sexually assaulting his then-11-year-old daughter. She’s now in her 30s. It’s easy for this to be dismissed as Hinch at it again, except this has happened very quickly after a major Victorian review into child safety that recommended suppression orders on the names of convicted child sex offenders be scrapped. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/human-headline-might-have-a-point-on-naming-offenders/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/human-headline-might-have-a-point-on-naming-offenders/#item8167 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Its-time-to-speak-out-about-the-unspeakable/ During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Its-time-to-speak-out-about-the-unspeakable/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Its-time-to-speak-out-about-the-unspeakable/#item7950 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/were-failing-to-decimate-child-sex-abuse/ We will never eradicate paedophilia or child sex abuse. This admission is implicit in the naming of SA Police’s Operation Decimate, which is the Sexual Crime Investigation Branch’s child sex exploitation investigation. I fervently hope they are using the term ‘decimate’ in its bastardised but generally accepted definition – to destroy a significant proportion. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/were-failing-to-decimate-child-sex-abuse/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/were-failing-to-decimate-child-sex-abuse/#item5746 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/throwing-money-at-child-abuse-wont-make-it-go-away/ Abused kids deserve better than spin. As the Federal Convenor of Parliamentarians Against Child Abuse and Neglect, I applaud the Baillieu Coalition Government for making the welfare of all Victorian children a priority in 2011.  The announcement last week of an inquiry into the systemic problems in Victoria’s child protection system is overdue and welcome.  Such an inquiry is much needed not only for all those who work in the child protection system but more importantly, for those who are living with abuse.  penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/throwing-money-at-child-abuse-wont-make-it-go-away/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/throwing-money-at-child-abuse-wont-make-it-go-away/#item5040 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-year-on-remembering-the-forgotten-australians/ ”…it is highly likely that every Australian either was, is related to, works with or knows someone who experienced childhood in an institution or out of home care environment.’ – Forgotten Australians, p. xv” At 8.30pm tonight SBS will screen a documentary called The Forgotten Australians, timed to air on the first anniversary of the national Apology last year by then prime minister, Kevin Rudd, to the people who have become known by this term.  Who are the Forgotten Australians – and why was the Prime Minister saying sorry?  penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-year-on-remembering-the-forgotten-australians/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-year-on-remembering-the-forgotten-australians/#item4477 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/1800-offended-your-one-stop-outrage-shop/ It would be handy, as a service for lazy journalists, if a special hotline called 1800-OFFENDED could be established whereby reporters looking for an easy headline can contact a centralised pool of permanently upset lobbyists. One of the reasons Australia has weathered the global financial crisis is that there is a vibrant local growth industry where hundreds of people are waiting by the phone to be professionally outraged about pretty much anything. An old media favourite is Harold Scruby who heads up the Pedestrian Council. Harold is the world’s nicest bloke but his irrational hatred of the motor car is such that he may well have been molested by an early-model Torana when he was a boy. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/1800-offended-your-one-stop-outrage-shop/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/1800-offended-your-one-stop-outrage-shop/#item4192 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/33000-reasons-to-act-on-child-abuse/ This week is National Child Protection Week 2010 and this year NAPCAN is highlighting the stark fact that when we know 33,000 children are abused each year, child protection is everyone’s business. And they are just the ones we know about. These statistics have no place in 21st century Australia. What would happen if, in a single year, 33,000 Australian children became ill in an epidemic, with some children dying and many children being damaged for life? There would be a national outcry to intervene and stop it. Why isn’t there a similar outcry for children who have been abused or neglected? The abuse and neglect of children continues year after year, yet it seems no one hears these children. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/33000-reasons-to-act-on-child-abuse/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/33000-reasons-to-act-on-child-abuse/#item3983 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/child-protection-trumps-rights-of-divorced-parents/ Six-year-old Naomi wants to kill herself after being repeatedly sexually abused since the age of two. Her mother Debbie says the bright and bubbly toddler has become a violent and aggressive girl who wants to throw herself in front of a car to end her suffering. Last week, I interviewed Debbie on Radio 2UE. It was harrowing. Heartbreaking. But instead of expressing sympathy, talkback callers were angry. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/child-protection-trumps-rights-of-divorced-parents/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/child-protection-trumps-rights-of-divorced-parents/#item2341 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Why-artists-should-not-fear-child-protection-reforms/ The proposal this year to remove the artistic defence from the NSW proposed legislation on child abuse, which includes child pornography and exploitation, is not particularly about censoring artists.  In fact, the Australia Council for the Arts believes that the proposal, which will harmonise NSW laws with the Commonwealth laws on the definitions of child pornography, has the potential to be advantageous to genuine artistic expression.  Mention art and pornography together, and people immediately position themselves at opposite ends of the room. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Why-artists-should-not-fear-child-protection-reforms/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Why-artists-should-not-fear-child-protection-reforms/#item2263 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-can-we-legislate-against-loveless-and-lawless-parents/ The recent call by Dr John Irvine to consider charging parents for crimes committed by children under the age of 10 highlights a fundamental social challenge.  Juvenile crime and delinquency is a growing problem within our schools and the wider community – costing millions of dollars each year.  Recent Bureau of Crime and Statistics research indicates a 44% rise in juvenile offences since 2001. Dr Irvine thinks that the ability to charge parents for the crimes their offspring commit “would help” and therefore it’s certainly worthy of debate and discussion. It’s hard to dispute his assertion that the Labor Government is too soft when it comes to dealing with the guardians of troubled children under 10. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-can-we-legislate-against-loveless-and-lawless-parents/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-can-we-legislate-against-loveless-and-lawless-parents/#item2260 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 During the early 1900s, at a time of increasing unrest over economic, social and political inequality for women, International Women’s Day was born. Now etched in our calendars, March 8th has even become an official holiday in some countries. The day celebrates both the achievements and the vital contribution women make in society. It’s also a recognition of the role feminism has played in exposing sexual violence and seeking solutions to combat this problem. A problem that is yet to be abated. The release late last month of the UN Secretary-general’s report on sexual violence during conflict, named military forces, militia and other armed groups as serious offenders in a large number of countries. Sexual violence was noted to have hampered peace building in places such as Timor Leste, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and featured in civil unrest in Egypt and Syria.