Good afternoon. Thank you for your time today.
I am Jane. Perhaps, like I do, many of you hold the same title—the title of parent. I am the mother of a one-spirited young girl who was sexually abused and, on account of that abuse, has also become a victim of sexual exploitation. Maybe you, as a parent, can relate to my child's story, which unfortunately has also become our family's lived experience.
In my few allotted minutes, I'd like to provide some insight and describe a few details of the horrific sexual abuse my little girl endured and continues to endure daily. My daughter was just a toddler when, one day, fate stamped itself upon her. She was just a young child who had no choice but to solely entrust her life to the hands of an adult who was supposed to protect her from harm, teach her right from wrong and love her in such a manner that cultivated and would enforce, in the future, what a healthy relationship is supposed to look like.
In her preschool to kindergarten years, she was groomed to believe that sex or sexual actions between children and grown-ups was completely acceptable and normal. Some days, instead of watching cartoons, she spent her time with a presumably trusted adult who normalized child pornographic material. This normalization took place by subjecting her to possibly hundreds of child exploitation videos repeatedly, at any opportune moment. With the help of various child sexual abuse materials, she was conveniently raped by her abuser over and over again. Based on evidence collected by law enforcement, it could possibly be determined that she was raped and sexually assaulted on a daily basis. She was between the ages of three and six years old, and raped in such a way that she was brainwashed to believe it was a fun game. Many times, she was bribed with candy as her reward for performance. Her performance included but was not limited to oral sex, vaginal intercourse, and edged into inserting various items into her anus.
The perpetrator was her biological father. This man also trafficked his own daughter by having her virtually participate in scripted, sexually explicit activities with one or more adults within the dark walls of the online world. When my child's abuser was caught, he admitted that the abuse had spiralled out of control. He had become desensitized to raping my daughter for his own sexual satisfaction. He admitted to law enforcement that he was always hungry for more.
My child's understanding of what happened to her is greater than she wishes she could remember. The extent of the damage done to her in the moment, and that continues into the present, is incalculable. My little girl has countless flashbacks that haunt her while she sleeps. Often, she is anxious, fearful and scared. Sadly, the abuse that happened to her is now hyperactively present on the dark web, known to be one of the top-downloaded series of child sexual abuse material circulating on the dark web. Child predators have saved and shared images and videos of her tiny body lying naked and contorted in provocative ways. Her privates are no longer private. Her vagina is on display for the world to view. Her smile, laughter and innocence have all been taken from her. How she is portrayed in those pictures and videos is not how she wants to be perceived.
Those who take it upon themselves to download, view, save and share my child's inappropriate pedophiliac merchandise take part in continually harming her. Perpetrators have blatantly premeditated their motives and have activated those actions against her will. Individuals who possess her child sexual abuse products should no doubt be held accountable and take full moral responsibility for their own contribution to the continued exploitation crisis that my child and many others continue to endure.
Because of these perpetrators' antics, my child has secluded herself from enjoyment of a fulfilling life. This is the only coping mechanism she believes she has to protect herself. She tries to hide herself by not leaving the house. If she does, she fears she may be recognized. She feels that she is damaged beyond repair. She wants the memories to vanish. Until the Internet has mandatory regulations and rules that aim to protect her and other victims against child sexual abuse material, the images will continue to exist. The evolution of technology has been her nemesis. As of now, she cannot escape the abuse, nor can the abuse escape her.
I will fight for my child and be an advocate for the protection she deserves. This should not be a debate. My child has suffered in silence for far too long. She should not be ashamed, nor should she feel guilty about the personal attacks that take place on the uncontrolled Internet. Allow her and others to find their dignity again.
Moving forward, we have a choice to be the change and shape the future of all children. My little girl is not solely a victim of hands-on offending. She is revictimized every single time her child sexual abuse material surfs throughout the dark web. What kind of person doesn't want to protect the future of our children or grandchildren? I will say it again with urgency: We need a culture of lawfulness that strongly enforces Internet regulation. The unregulated Internet has damaged my child and countless children across the nation.