‘My suffering is unbearable’: Dutch teenage rape survivor ends life with legal euthanasia
© Instagram Notice the scars from many serious attempts to suicide
A 17-year-old girl from the Netherlands, a survivor of sexual abuse, has ended her life in a state-approved euthanasia program after a years-long struggle with depression and mental illness.
Noa Pothoven took her own life in her home in Arnhem on Sunday, with the aid of an end of life clinic. Suicide is legal in the country under the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act of 2001, but requires the approval of a physician, who must conclude the patient’s anguish is insufferable.
The day before her death, Pothoven shared her decision with more than 10,000 followers on Instagram.
© Instagram
“Within a maximum of 10 days I will die,” she wrote. “After years of fighting and fighting it is finished. I have now stopped eating and drinking for a while, and after many conversations and reviews it has been decided that I will be released because my suffering is unbearable. It's finished.”
Love is letting go, in this case.
Pothoven blogged about mental health issues and wrote about her battle with depression in a prize-winning autobiography, ‘Winning and Learning.’ In the book, the teen also detailed experiences with sexual abuse and rape, which she said she concealed for years out of shame.
She wrote in her book that she was first assaulted at the age of 11 and raped by two men when she was just 14-years-old.
Though euthanasia remains highly controversial, each year a greater number of people go through with the procedure. According to the most recent data, in 2017 there were over 6,500 assisted suicides in the Netherlands, an 8 percent increase from the previous year. Euthanasia is also legal in Canada and Belgium.
This is so heartbreaking! It's hard to believe that she could not find adequate help to deal with the mental anguish she suffered from for so long.
Germany registers shocking number of
child abuse cases
Police have said that this year's crime statistics paint a grim picture of the state of child welfare in Germany. More than 100 children were killed in 2018, and thousands were sexually abused.
German criminal statistics for the year 2018 were released on Thursday, and police say they paint a very dark picture.
According to the report, 136 children were violently killed in 2018 — with 80% of victims under the age of 6. Another 98 children were also the victims of attempted killings.
The number of children sexually abused last year rose 6.43% over 2017, to a staggering 14,600 cases — an average of 40 each day.
Police say the actual number of cases is likely much higher, but as perpetrators tend to be family members, friends, or neighbors, it is often very difficult for the children to report such crimes.
In most, if not all countries, the majority of child sexual abuse is not reported. In some countries the number that reaches authorities is a very small fraction of the real devastation. Germany does not suffer from some of the stigmas many countries do, and probably is not so much in denial that such horrific things occur to as many as 20-25% of girls and 10-15% of boys.
'We must assume many crimes go undetected'
Holger Münch, president of Germany's Federal Crime Office (BKA), said that although police were able to solve almost 80% of the child sexual abuse cases they were dealing with, "that statistic only represents crimes that police were made aware of. We must assume — and experts estimate — that many crimes go undetected."
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| Holger Münch |
Police also uncovered 7,449 cases of the production and distribution of child pornography in 2018, a 14% increase over 2017. The BKA says the uncovering of such cases was due in large part to international cooperation.
In early May, for instance, US law enforcement alerted German authorities to a string of images that allowed the police to use "technical means" to locate and arrest perpetrators. Authorities, however, say German privacy laws that prohibit the storage of IP addresses have hindered many attempts to uncover such crimes.
Münch called for a 10-week storage of data to assist authorities in their hunt for criminals. He said in 4,000 of the 20,000 concrete leads the BKA received, IP addresses were the only tool at its disposal.
'Unbinding empathy' doesn't help victims
Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig, the federal commissioner for sexual abuse issues, put great emphasis on the need to create state agencies to deal with the situation from a preventative standpoint. "Create state child abuse commissions. Agree to binding, concrete measures for prevention and intervention," he said.
Rörig said "unbinding empathy" will not help victims, and emphasized the urgent need to address shortages in funding and training at Germany's youth services offices.
Pakistan - the worst place in the world to be a girl
- 2 horrific stories
11 y/o girl in Sindh, Pakistan drugged and raped by two men, left to die
Doctors refuse to help her and police are slow to act
Gulf News
Dubai: Disturbing pictures and videos from a rape case of a preteen who belongs to the Hindu community in Sindh, Pakistan, have surfaced and caused an outcry online.
The incident reportedly took place on Friday, June 7. After the girl, identified as Jamna Saami, was forcefully intoxicated and sexually assaulted by two men, she was allegedly left in a sports ground around her district.
Pictures and videos taken by people who later found her went viral online.
The videos are very disturbing and not for everyone as Jamna thrashes about, first on the ground, then in a hospital bed, where doctors refused to treat her because she was not cooperating. Or, perhaps, because she was Hindu.
Conflicting reports on the girl’s exact age have emerged. However, most local news sources said that she was around 12 years old.
The police (eventually) arrested the accused and registered a first information report (FIR) against them. However, many believed that action should have been taken sooner.
The accused have been identified as brothers Roshan Shaikh and Rajab Shaikh. Hindu rights activist, Kapil Dev, @KDSindhi shared the picture of the accused.
Kapil Dev
@KDSindhi
Update on Jamna Case: Two main accused rapists Roshan Shaikh & Rajab Shaikh has been arreated & an FIR has been lodged against them. #Justiceforjamna pic.twitter.com/5PWQwJz9x3
After the spread of the news, people were outraged and the hashtag #JusticeforJamna became the top trend on Twitter across Pakistan.
People called for better protection of children and minorities. They also discussed women’s safety in the country.
Bilal Farooqi
@bilalfqi
11-year-old girl in Sujawal, Sindh, reportedly abducted, administered an intoxicant and raped. She was later beaten and left at a ground. Sindh govt must ensure that the men who did this are behind bars ASAP! #JusticeForJamna pic.twitter.com/1X2wRQUTWI
Similarly, Twitter user @EngrMianAyub called for action from authorities: “Regardless of her religion, Jamna is a daughter of #Pakistan, she is Pakistani. Whole Pakistan [is] raising its voice for the Justice of this innocent girl. This should stop now. The culprits should be punished death sentence. #Justiceforjamna”
User @KashifMD chose to directly tweet at Shireen Mazari, Pakistan’s current Federal Minister for Human Rights: “This calls for an immediate investigation ma’am @ShireenMazari1. It is your responsibility to ensure protection of dignity and human rights of all citizens of all faiths. This continues to happen under your watch. Set a precedent here.”
Meanwhile, there were women who argued that incidents like these prove why movements such as the Aurat (women) March that took place this year might be necessary.
Tweep @Tooba_Sd wrote: “Jamna Saami is her name. She was sexually assaulted and raped. Her videos have been circulating on social media in a traumatic state. Remember her name when next time they ask us why we are out on the roads to march. It’s for each one of us and for Jamna! #JusticeForJamna”
Not the first - 10 y/o raped and murdered
With little response from police
Pakistanis raised similar concerns surrounding women’s and children safety in Mohmand’s case. Delays in filing a first information report (FIR) and conducting a postmortem had angered many.
Gulf News
Dubai: Horrific news of a 10-year-old being allegedly raped and murdered in Islamabad, Pakistan has shocked the country.
The body of a girl, identified as Farishta Mohmand, was found dumped in Chak Shahzad, a suburb in Islamabad. It is believed that she had been missing for five days before being found.
People are also claiming that the police and medical facilities have been unsupportive by refusing to file a first information report (FIR) or conduct a postmortem.
Now, the top trend on Twitter in Pakistan is #JusticeForFarishta and people are demanding action from authorities and expressing their anger.
@UsamaKhilji
Disgusted & horrified. 10-year old child went missing 5 days ago but police refused to register FIR. She was raped & murdered & #PolyClinic hospital is refusing to carry out post mortem. Shame on this system of useless police & hospitals, only cronyism works. #JusticeForFarishta
In another tweet, he detailed what he thought authorities should have done: “In an effective system, police would have registered FIR upon complaint from the child’s parents about her being missing, traced her and abductors, and prevented her rape and murder. But no, even the hospital won’t carry out a postmortem after all that happened. #JusticeForFarishta”
@UsamaKhilji
Disgusted & horrified. 10-year old child went missing 5 days ago but police refused to register FIR. She was raped & murdered & #PolyClinic hospital is refusing to carry out post mortem. Shame on this system of useless police & hospitals, only cronyism works. #JusticeForFarishta
Tweep @AaliyaShah1 had similar thoughts: “Police refused to register an FIR. Hospital refused to carry out postmortem. Any specific reason for this criminal act of refusal? I can’t bear to see this horrific scene and dead body of this angel, now think about her family. #JusticeForFarishta”
Twitter user @NaziaMemon01 shared an image that is being identified as Farishta’s father’s, the man is seen crying outside the medical facility her body was refused the postmortem at, according to online posts: “10-year-old Farishta went to play and didn’t return home, initially police refused to help and delayed the search. After five days her mutilated body recovered from a jungle. She was raped and than murdered. One cannot imagine an agony of a parent. #justiceForFarishta”
However, hours after Khilji’s post was posted, activist Nighat Dad, @nighatdad, replied to it with an update involving Shireen Mazari, Federal Minister for Human Rights in Pakistan: “Update: Just spoke to @ShireenMazari1 she is following up the case closely, Postmortem has been done and there will be an update on FIR soon. #justiceForFarishta.”
Mazari has not made any updates or statements about the case yet.
Meanwhile, protests took place around Pakistan, calling for justice for the child.
Gulalai Ismail, @Gulalai_Ismail, who describes herself as a human rights activist on Twitter, posted: “Activists are protesting outside the polyclinic hospital demanding post-mortem of 10-year-old child who was brutally killed. She’d gone missing 5 days ago. Billions have been spent on Islamabad to make it safe, but it is still unsafe for our children. #Shame #JusticeForFarishta.”
11 people face more than 200 child abuse,
exploitation charges in Ireland
RTE
Five men and six women have appeared at the district court facing more than 200 charges as part of a two-year garda investigation into child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation in the south of the country.
The 11 accused people range in age from their 30s to their 70s.
All are facing charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation.
A number also face charges of rape, and of child cruelty and neglect.
The court was told the DPP has directed that all matters proceed on indictment to the Central Criminal Court.
The 11 were remanded on bail to 21 November for the preparation of the book of evidence.
Strict conditions were, however, attached to the bail, including that the accused persons reside at named addresses and be contactable at all times by mobile phone with gardaí, sign-on at a garda station weekly, and have no contact, including through social media or by a third party, with the victims in the case.
Prohibitive reporting restrictions were also ordered by the judge, including identifying any location or townland connected with the case, or the location of the court hearing in order to protect the identity of the victims.
T&T woman in court for failing to report
sexual abuse of a child
LOOP NEWS
A 64-year-old woman, who failed to report the sexual abuse of a seven-year-old girl, has appeared before a San Fernando Magistrate.
The accused, of Claxton Bay, appeared before Magistrate Indar Jagroo faced with a charge of failure to make the report under the Sexual Offences Act, as laid by PC Rajkumar.
After the charge was read, bail was set at $45,000, and the matter was adjourned to July 5.
It has been alleged that sometime in 2018, the woman was informed by the seven-year-old that another individual had touched her inappropriately.
However, instead of making a report to the police, the 64-year-old allegedly told the child to remain quiet.
Other adults were notified, and the police were informed which led to an inquiry.
This is a good way to address the stigma in Trinidad and Tobago against reporting child sexual abuse. I hope the judge continues to come down hard on her as an example to others.
Tonga’s domain in top five for sexual abuse material
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Out of the 105,047 urls identified in 3,899 domains, 80% were concentrated within these top five domains with .TO listed as number five, behind .COM, .NET, .CO and .RU.
The foundation’s annual reports over the last two years however, show Tonga was not included in their top five lists.
Tonga’s .TO domain has appeared in the past on other similar reports.
Department of Information Director, Andrew To’imoana, told Matangi Tonga he was not aware of this particular report.
To remove a website, he said a court order is required “to take down a domain name for allegations of intellectual property, infringement, or the like”.
“If the name is associated with obvious criminal activity (e.g. child porn, phishing, carding) our domain admin will just take down those domains after investigating if the allegations are correct.”
The .TO ccTLD admin is Tonic, located in California, USA.
“They have readily complied with takedown requests mandated by court orders from any United States jurisdiction,” said Andrew.
“Offensive websites in Tonga can be reported to the Police first and depending on the evidence presented, they can seek for a court order and contact the local hosting company such as Digicel or TCC etc., for a takedown of the particular website.”
The Internet Watch Foundation is a charity based in the UK and works with service providers to remove child pornography and other potentially illegal content from the web.
It's just sick that hosting companies seem happy to comply with court orders, but take no initiative on their own to eliminate child sexual abuse images from their domains. They could do so much better.
Tonga should be ashamed that their name is associated with such suffering and child abuse and demand the domain be cleaned up.
Court hands down 40-month prison sentence in
4th Oulu, Finland child sex abuse case
YLE News
The Oulu district court has convicted a 29-year-old man for the sexual abuse of a minor, who was 13 years-old at the time the offences were committed.
The court sentenced the defendant, Javad Mirzad, to three years and four months in prison after he was found guilty of aggravated child sexual abuse.
The court found that the offences occurred at a private residence in the Oulu region last August and that the victim and the defendant had been in contact via a messaging service.
The conviction is the fourth in a series of similar cases in which the same 13-year-old girl is believed to have suffered abuse at the hands of of eight different foreign-background men between June and October last year. On Wednesday, another defendant -- a 22-year-old man -- received a three-year sentence after conviction on similar charges.
It is unacceptable that people granted asylum here have brought evil': Finnish President (7th and 8th stories on link)
4-yr prison sentence in Finland child sexual abuse case (6th story on link)
Defendant likely to appeal
Oulu district prosecutor Kaisa Kytömäki said that she hadn’t fully reviewed the court’s arguments for the sentence, but remarked that it was in line with previous sentencing handed down in the series of related cases, adding that it aligned well with the prosecutor’s demands.
"The sentence appears to be well-reasoned," she continued.
Defence attorney Heikki Aspegren said that he had not yet spoken with his client, but told Yle that he believed that they would appeal the sentence.
"There is justification for an appeal. The prison sentence seems rather long. I believe that the sentence has been a disappointment for my client," Aspegren added.
Tabloid daily Iltalehti reported on Friday that the defendant denied the charges against him and told the court that he believed the girl was 16. In Finland, the legally-defined age of consent is 16.
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