Shari Karney was invited to participate on a panel of survivors of child sex abuse for the Focus For Health Virtual Town Hall entitled “Shame and Silence-When Sexual Violence Occurs in Families” Wednesday July 8, 2020. Shari was one of three panel members who briefly shared their stories of disclosing their sexual abuse to family members and then talked about the aftermath of the disclosure of abuse – the effects on the child, the family, and the community. Then the Panel talked solutions. How we all can turn our “Pain into Purpose.” Here is the recording of this powerful event: here.

World-Wide Child Sexual Abuse and Gender Violence United Nations New York Event.

Shari Karney was invited to participate on a panel of 5 experts for the United Nations Association of New York Zoom Webinar Event entitled “Victors – A Song to the Lions,” discussing worldwide child sexual abuse prevention, intervention, and recovery. Tabitha Mpamira-Kaguri, Founder of the EDJA Foundation, does their work through healing centers for child victims of sexual abuse, including counseling, hospital visits, and work with legal advocates and police officers. Thus far, Tabitha’s organization has resulted in the arrest of over 40 perpetrators – and a grandfather who abused his 5-year-old granddaughter received a sentence of 32 years in prison.

Shari spoke to the parallels between the stigma and lack of justice for child sexual abuse victims in Uganda and the United States, explaining ROAR As One’s advocacy for removing the civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse in all 50 states, the federal government, the Native Tribal Lands, and the District of Columbia. That survivors worldwide, starting in the United States, should hold perpetrators personally and financially accountable.

This was a truly global event that draws attention to the pandemic of child sexual abuse and the progress made by these life changers on the United Nations panel. Just one person can and does make a difference.