Survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their advocates are hoping their long wait for justice is about to end.
Today in Albany, the New York State Senate and Assembly are scheduled to vote on the Child Victims Act, a measure that would extend the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse going forward and provide a one-year window in which survivors with expired claims could file lawsuits regardless of how long ago their abuse occured.
Jill Knittel, who says she was sexually abused for years as a child by her uncle, did not speak publicly about her story until recently. Knittel, an honorary board member and past board chair at Bivona Child Advocacy Center, says it's important for people to understand that sexual abuse knows no socioeconomic or geographic boundaries.
"Being able to tell this story that I grew up in a suburban household with my mom as a teacher and my dad as a cop, and my uncle found a way to get to me, was something that I felt needed to be told because people think that it doesn't happen in their community; they think it doesn't happen next door, and it does."
Knittel is also using her voice and her story to support the Child Victims Act.
"Right now, the statute says that by age 23 the person who was abused has to bring civil or criminal action against the perpetrator," she said. "At age 23, I didn't even know who I was and there was no way that I was strong enought to be able to do that. I think every victim should have the opportunity to get justice for the healing and for the ability to move forward with their life."
Click on the LISTEN link above to hear an interview with Jill Knittel.
