Exhibit Captures Pain, Survival of Child Abuse Victims
April 18 - June 6, 2014 in The NonProfit Center Lobby
Posted Saturday April 19 2014 at 11:27 am.
Used tags: boston, kids, photography
Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F Conley,
Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County,
Third Sector New England,
and VSA Massachusetts present
"Now You See"
A Celebration of Courageous Kids
Exhibit April 18 - June 6, 2014 in The NonProfit Center Lobby, 89 South Street, Boston 02111. Reception and Bravery Ceremony Monday April 28, 2014 at 4pm, 89 South Street, Boston. In attendance will be Dan Conley, Suffolk County District Attorney.
Look into the eyes and read the words of some of Suffolk County's bravest children who are featured in this exhibit. You will be moved by their experiences and inspired by their resilience.
In 2013, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and Children's Advocacy Center received 1,598 reports of child abuse. These cases included sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and more.
Some of those referrals were the result of babies being brought to emergency rooms with broken bones, burns and bruises.
Some of those referrals were the result of kids going to school with signs of abuse ranging from bruises to behaviors.
And many of those referrals were the result of a child telling a caring adult what was happening to them. But that is all too rare. Most kids do not tell anyone when they are being abused. Why? The reasons are too long and complex to state simply. Some are obvious, like a child being afraid of the abuser. Or a child loving the abuser in spite of the terrible things happening to them. Or a child not wanting to break up their family or risk being removed from their own home. Some reasons are not so obvious, like the many kids who we learn were trying to protect their own loving caretaker from the heartache of learning their child is being abused. "I didn't want my mom to be upset." "I knew my Dad would do something and I didn't want my Dad to get in trouble." These are some of the things we hear consistently.
So when a child does tell, we have a duty to respond and to make that child feel heard and safe. We have a duty to listen and to do whatever it takes to protect them and to help them heal.
Most people do not realize how courageous these children are because they don't know what these kids have seen, what their bodies have felt and what their hearts have endured. Many people do not understand the amount of bravery it takes to disclose abuse and then to continue on with the difficult process that follows.
This exhibit hopes to shine light on that bravery. Look at the eyes of these children and pay attention to what they have to say. As you do, you may feel emotional or even overwhelmed. And if you do, that is ok. In fact, it's great. Because the kids you read about deserve to be seen and heard. Support them by taking the time to learn about what happened and to care. And now you see.
To learn more, read this Boston Globe article.
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