4 Feb 2011

Affidavit in Canadian polygamy case reveals shocking statistics on child trafficking, child brides and teen mothers in Bountiful


The Vancouver Sun - January 25, 2011

Data supports hard truth about brides in Bountiful

Why isn't this information being used now to prosecute the men who sexually exploited and impregnated children?

BY DAPHNE BRAMHAM, VANCOUVER SUN



It is no secret that there are child brides and teen mothers in the polygamous community of Bountiful, B.C., and that many of them are illegal immigrants from the United States.

Now, there are hard numbers to support the anecdotal evidence.

The numbers come from the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency and were filed as an affidavit last week in B.C. Supreme Court, where Chief Justice Robert Bauman is hearing a constitutional reference case to determine whether Canada's polygamy law is valid.

Some of the statistics are surprising; others a bit shocking.

They comprise data from 1986 to 2009 -- beginning in 1986 to mirror some of the information previously presented in an affidavit by Perry Kendall, B.C.'s chief medical health officer, and ending in 2009 because the 2010 information was not complete.

The number of births alone is surprising -- 833 born to 215 mothers in 13 years in a community whose population is commonly estimated at around 1,000.

And that number may still be low, since the agency only counted births associated with the 14 most common surnames in Bountiful. Not counted were babies with 11 other surnames listed on the registries of Bountiful's two elementary schools.

The most disturbing fact is that 85 mothers -- a third of the total -- were 18 or younger. That's seven times the provincial rate of teen moms.

Two of the teens had three children each by the time they were 18; 16 had two children each. That means one in 10 babies was born to a teenager. That's a rate more than double the local average and nearly four times the provincial average of 2.7 per cent.

And it's no secret that in Bountiful (as in most polygamous societies), the powerful older men have the most wives and the most children. The statistics support that.

The age gap between the 215 mothers and the 142 fathers is slightly more than eight years. That's nearly double the regional average and an anomaly in B.C., where the average is 4.6 years.

(Even though the legal age of sexual consent was raised to 16 from 14 in 2008, it bears noting that it's a criminal offence for someone in a position of trust or authority to have sexual relations with anyone under the age of 18.)

Of the fathers, 32 had only one child. But one -- Winston Blackmore -- had 107.

Blackmore, now 54, is spiritual leader to about half the community. His former wife, Ruth Lane, testified that by spring 2010 Blackmore had 136 children and that several of his wives were under 18.

(In 2009, Blackmore and FLDS bishop James Oler were charged with one count each of polygamy. Those charges were stayed.)

It also bears noting that the legal age of marriage in B.C. is 18. Not that it matters. As Chief Justice Robert Bauman has repeatedly been told, most fundamentalist Mormon marriages are "spiritual" or "celestial" unions arranged by the prophet or his designate.

As Bauman has also heard, women and girls are routinely moved between the fundamentalist Mormon communities for arranged marriages.

The birth statistics bear that out -- 45 per cent of Bountiful's mothers are foreign-born, compared with 29.3 per cent in the rest of Canada and only 11 per cent in nearby Creston and Cranbrook.

This article was found at:

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Data+supports+hard+truth+about+brides+Bountiful/4161414/story.html

*******************************************************************************

CBC News - The Canadian Press January 27, 2011

Polygamous town had many teen moms, court told



More than one in 10 children born in the polygamous community of Bountiful, B.C., until recently has been born to a teenage mother, according to statistics filed with a B.C. court.

Contradictory accounts from academics, former residents and plural wives have painted a blurry picture of life inside the community in southeastern B.C. that is at the centre of a landmark court case.

After two months of testimony, the judge who will weigh in on whether Canada's ban on multiple marriage violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has heard wildly divergent views on whether polygamy inherently leads to child brides, teenage pregnancies and low school enrolment.

But provincial government statistics suggest those trends are all present in Bountiful, a community of about 1,000 residents who follow the teachings of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or FLDS. Unlike the Mormon church, which renounced polygamy more than a century ago, the FLDS still practices multiple marriage.

Statistical anomalies

Bruce Klette of the province's Vital Statistics Agency examined birth records from Bountiful children between 1986 and 2009 and compared them to statistics from the entire province.

"Specific statistical anomalies can be seen in these data," Klette wrote in an affidavit filed with the court.

Klette identified 833 births to 215 mothers and 142 fathers.

Slightly more than 10 per cent of those children — a total of 85 — were born to girls under 18, compared to the provincial figure of 2.7 per cent. More than a quarter of the community's teen moms had at least two children before they turned 18.

The ages of mothers and fathers were, on average, eight years apart, compared to 4.6 years in the rest of B.C.

The community's 142 fathers had an average of 5.7 children each, and 27 of them sired eight or more.

And about 45 per cent of mothers were born outside of Canada — most in Utah — compared with 30 per cent of foreign births for the province as a whole.

Teen marriage stopped

The provincial and federal governments have alleged young girls are trafficked between Bountiful and polygamous communities in the U.S. to marry.

Klette's figures don't include marriage statistics, but the province has argued that, because the FLDS strictly prohibits pre-marital sex, the court should assume each teenage mother is also a teenage wife.

The FLDS announced in 2008 that it would no longer sanction teenage marriage, and Klette's research found no teen births in 2008 or 2009.

Critics of polygamy have also alleged children in such communities — and Bountiful in particular — don't have sufficient access to education and aren't encouraged to finish high school.

There are two schools in the community, each run by one of two divided factions within Bountiful. Children connected to the U.S.-based FLDS attend Bountiful Elementary-Secondary School and those who follow Winston Blackmore's breakaway group attend Mormon Hills School. Each school receives government funding.

Three women from the community testified anonymously earlier this week, and each said they graduated from Bountiful Elementary-Secondary and subsequently attended college or university to study education, accounting or midwifery.

However, the province's head inspector for independent schools, Edward Vanderboom, wrote in an affidavit that the school hasn't been certified to grant official high school diplomas since 1994. Mormon Hills was recently certified to issue diplomas beginning this school year.

Enrolment declining

Vanderboom found enrolment in higher grades has been steadily declining at both schools.

At Bountiful Elementary-Secondary, there have been a total of 59 students in Grade 10 classes since the 2003-04 school year, but only 11 in Grade 12.

There has been a similar trend at Mormon Hills. Since the 2003-04 school year, a total of 44 students have been enrolled in a Grade 10 class, while only eight have attended Grade 12.

And since 2003, only 25 students from the two schools have attained either a graduation certificate or the adult equivalent by upgrading their classes elsewhere.

Bountiful Elementary-Secondary applied in 2007 to issue high school diplomas, but was denied after inspectors identified several problems with the school's curriculum.

"It would not be correct for BESS to assert that students 'graduate' from BESS if that term is meant to imply that students meet educational requirements set by the minister for graduation," wrote Vanderboom.

"In fact, its Grade 11-12 educational program was found in 2007 to not meet the requirements."

A 2007 review included with Vanderboom's affidavit says the school's course outlines weren't available, making it impossible to determine whether the school was meeting provincial standards.

The school's religion courses for Grades 10-12 were too similar to grant students separate high school credits for each year, and several elective courses, such as forestry, didn't meet the required number of teaching hours, the report says.

The school hasn't reapplied since.


This article was found at:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/01/27/bc-polygamy-hearing-statistics.html


RELATED ARTICLES:




Stop Polygamy in Canada website has notes taken by observers in the courtroom as well as links to most of the affidavits and research the court is considering in this case. 

Economics professor considers financial aspects of polygamy that create inequality

Two Mormon fundamentalist women from Utah tell Canadian court positive accounts of polygamy, no hint of abuse

Brother of FLDS bishop describes intellectual abuse, child labour, spiritual abuse and loveless religion in Canadian polygamy case

No freedom from religion for women and children in Mormon polygamist towns where men claim religious freedom to abuse

Mormon polygamist survivor tells court babies smothered to keep quiet, emotional and spiritual abuse worse than sex abuse


Video testimony by Mormon fundamentalist in Canadian court says polygamy provides happy life and harms no one


Survivor tells Canadian court extreme abuses including water torture of babies common in Mormon polygamist communities


FLDS bishop of Bountiful will not testify in Canadian polygamy case so his affidavit will not be read into record


Legal expert tells Canadian court polygamy prohibitions and monogamy tradition pre-date Christianity


The issue of women's rights in the Canadian constitutional review of the polygamy law



Before holiday break in constitutional case judge hears conflicting expert testimony on harms associated with polygamy

Expert in polygamy case says society should assume all members of sects have free choice, but what about children?

B.C. government expert in polygamy case sets out long list of social harms, societies that abandon polygamy do better

Court views video affidavits from Mormon fundamentalist survivors detailing pedophilia, incest, child trafficking and forced marriage

Polygamy expert tells court in constitutional case that it reduces women's freedom and equality and leads to forced marriage

Affidavits from survivors and psychologist's testimony in constitutional case show abusive nature of polygamous lifestyle

Expert witness in constitutional case on polygamy claims Bountiful women freely choose their own religious oppression

Judge allows controversial expert witness to testify in Canadian polygamy case, no decision yet on publication of video affidavits

Pro-polygamy intervenor groups make opening statements as first week of Canadian constitutional case ends

FLDS lawyer in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy claims members freely consent to plural marriage, abuse survivors disagree

Lawyer appointed to argue for striking down Canada's anti-polygamy law in constitutional case makes opening arguments

Canadian constitutional case on polygamy begins with BC government's opening statement

Unique Canadian constitutional case on polygamy set to begin November 22, 2010

Timeline of events leading up to Canadian constitutional case on polygamy which is set to begin

Survivor of abuse by Mormon polygamists documents accounts of sex crimes in the FLDS and other fundamentalist groups

Mormon fundamentalist leader asks court to exclude evidence against him in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy

Fundamentalist Mormon spokeswoman says polygamy doesn't hurt anyone

Mormon fundamentalist claims of religious persecution in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy not supported by the facts

Polygamist leader says BC attorney general guilty of religious persecution

Polygamist leader calls charges religious persecution

More persecution than prosecution

Second Mormon polygamist found guilty of child sex assault, jury doesn't buy defense claim of religious persecution

Claims of persecution ridiculous in societies where Christians have special privileges to indoctrinate children

More pro-polygamy affidavits by Mormon fundamentalists filed in Canadian constitutional case set to begin in November

Judge will allow anonymous testimony from Mormon polygamists in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy

Mormon polygamists seek immunity from future prosecution before giving evidence in Canadian constitutional case

Canadian constitutional case on polygamy triggered by Mormon fundamentalists, but will also examine Muslim communities

Utah law professor uses Mormon polygamists as example of how religious extremism leads to deliberate child abuse

Polygyny and Canada’s Obligations under International Human Rights Law (pdf)

Research paper submitted to B.C. court in constitutional case documents harms associated with polygamy

Man from Bountiful says girls in Mormon polygamist communities "treated like poison snakes", taught to obey men and have many children

Bountiful evidence that polygamy harms women and children - constitutional case likely to reach Canadian Supreme Court

Review of the positions 12 intervener groups are expected to take in upcoming Canadian constitutional case on polygamy

Some religious practices, such as polygamy, are inherently harmful and should not be tolerated in modern society

Women's adovcates: polygamy is an “oppressive institution” that abuses and enslaves women and children

Prosecuting Polygamy in El Dorado by Marci Hamilton

Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearings on Polygamy Crimes: What Needs to Be Done at the Federal Level to Protect Children from Abuse and Neglect

Senate hearing: "Crimes Associated with Polygamy: The Need for a Coordinated State and Federal Response."

Texas Will Attempt to Show That Polygamist Culture Itself Harms Children

FLDS defendants complain their religious freedom violated, while denying religious freedom to their children

Children in Bountiful have religious rights too, but are denied them by parents claiming religious freedom

Some Canadian children are protected from religion-related abuse, while others are not

Polygamy is not freedom

Israeli politicians and women's advocates call for immediate change to polygamy law to protect rights of women and children

New study on polygamy in Malaysia finds evidence of harm to everyone involved

Indonesian Women's Association divided on whether polygamy, which is legal in Indonesia, is harmful to women and children


No comments:

Post a Comment