Child Sexual Abuse - Concise Opinion

Question: If you were a member of the Board of Trustees of Pennsylvania State University on 09 November 2011, would you have voted to summarily dismiss the university president, its vice president for business affairs, its athletic director, or its head football coach? If yes, why yes; if no, why not? It is possible you might have voted against one or more of these individuals but in favour of one or more. In this case, kindly explain the difference. Discuss fully, with documentation.

Answer: There is hardly any problem more objectionable than child sexual abuse. It is outlawed almost everywhere in the world; in some places the penalty includes even life imprisonment or capital punishment. Although among the countries the specific of child sexual abuse laws differ, as of November 2009, 194 countries have ratified, accepted or acceded to the Convention on the Right of the Child, set up by the United Nation in 1990. The United States has signed CRC as well, however due to opposition by a few political and religious conservatives (claiming it conflicts with the United States Constitution) the U.S has not ratified it yet. Bearing in mind Barack Obama’s fully support of the idea, that may be changed soon.

Apart from legal consequences, an allegation of child sexual abuse – as a crime commonly and strongly condemned -is followed by numerous no-written social restrictions like ostracism or stigmatization. The false accusation might easily ruin someone’s reputation, career or even life. Because of this a prudent investigation should be conduct, so as not to harm guiltless, and punish lawbreakers.

Were I a member of the Board of Trustees of Pennsylvania State University on 09 November 2011, I would have tried to keep calm during the voting. Undoubtedly news that our defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, might have committed a crime and a well-known coach Joe Paterno (among others) might have covered up his behavior would be shocking as well as horrifying. As I...