The Vancouver Sun - Canada April 6, 2011
Bountiful's girls deserve same decisive action accorded to sled dogs
For nearly two decades, B.C. has failed to help these victims; it's time the attorney-general stepped up
By Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun
A hundred sled dogs were killed when a Whistler business went bad. The B.C. government almost immediately set up an inquiry, and have backed its recommendation that stringent animal-cruelty legislation is needed.
Pity that there's never been that kind of fast and decisive action when it comes to vulnerable children in Bountiful.
After nearly two decades of dithering, out of fear that Canada's polygamy law is unconstitutional, B.C. initiated a reference case to determine the law's validity. It is now lumbering through the B.C. Supreme Court, en route, no doubt, to the Supreme Court of Canada in a few years from now.
Evidence in the case has revealed established patterns of trafficking, sexual exploitation and forced marriage -all of which supports allegations that have been made for decades against the fundamentalist Mormon community.
It also reveals a pattern of six decades of government "acquiescence," said Cheryl Milne of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children last week in her closing argument.
The government failed to protect the rights of Bountiful's children and continues to do so, she said, all in violation of international conventions on children's rights.
B.C. Attorney-General Barry Penner said in an interview that he was "shocked and disturbed" when he saw his ministry's list of 31 underage girls, along with their birth dates, wedding dates, the names and birthdates of their husbands, and the names of the fathers or brothers who allegedly trafficked them into the United States or brought them illegally to Canada.
But lawyers in his ministry and the Ministry of Children and Family Development knew about one of those girls -a 13-year-old -in 2008. That information was in the file that was reviewed by ministry lawyers as well as a special prosecutor. No criminal charges were laid.
There's other disturbing evidence. In 20 years, only 20 students have graduated with a high-school certificate from the two schools in Bountiful that receive nearly $2 million a year in government funding. Only 12 Bountiful residents have received adult equivalency certificates.
Witnesses for the attorney-general testified during the reference case that at 15 and 16 they were put to work for substandard wages, sometimes without proper safety equipment.
When Penner became aware of the list of underage brides last month, he asked RCMP to investigate.
But there's been no extra money allocated for the police investigation -just as there was no money allocated in 2004, when Geoff Plant was attorney-general and asked RCMP to investigate Bountiful. That time, it took nearly six months before RCMP had investigators in place.
Penner won't comment on the list. He doesn't want to prejudge the police investigation or speculate as to what lawyers in his ministry's criminaljustice branch might decide to do if RCMP recommend charges.
The attorney-general also didn't want to comment on a rather chilling paragraph in his ministry's written closing argument in the reference case: "Even with such compelling documentary evidence, there still remains a question of whether the crimes detailed could ever be prosecuted," it says. "Without the cooperation of the victim, it is virtually impossible to prove sexual contact as an element of exploitation or assault, unless the girl becomes pregnant while still a teen."
Penner said he didn't want to "usurp" the advice of his staff, but added that in his experience as a lawyer it's always better to have a witness.
But here's a thought: Subpoena some witnesses.
Even the FLDS witnesses who testified anonymously in the reference case provided evidence of the established patterns of abuse.
An American testified that she became the plural wife of a prominent Bountiful man in his 40s just a week after her 17th birthday. She lied to Canadian immigration officials at the border, handing them a letter from her parents saying that she was coming to visit relatives.
Six months later, she told the court, her husband crossed the border again with a 15-year-old American bride.
Another witness told of her own arranged marriage at 16 and explained why she agreed to her daughter's marriage at 15. The choice, the mother said in court, was to let her daughter marry a young man she cared for or risk having her assigned to an older man whom she might not even know.
The B.C. attorney-general has expressed the same shock and horror as his predecessors, over the decades, when faced with the allegations about Bountiful.
Penner, no doubt, is sincere. Some of his predecessors were as well.
But like the others, he will be judged by his action -or lack of it.
This article was found at:
RELATED ARTICLES ON THIS BLOG:
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.
Research from over 170 countries shows polygamy causes extreme violations of women and children's rights
Author who escaped abuse in US polygamy cult explains why Canadian constitutional case is so important in both countries
Evidence in Canadian polygamy case shows Mormon leader trafficked his daughters and other child brides to US
Religious practice not above the law, polygamy consumes its young says Attorney General of BC in closing argument
Summary of positions in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy as court begins hearing final oral arguments
Lawyer says extraordinary evidence in Canadian case shows polygamous society consumes children, harms women
A review of the Canadian constitutional case on polygamy after completion of testimonies
Canadian Muslim polygamists closely watching landmark constitutional case on Canadian polygamy law
Economics professor considers financial aspects of polygamy that create inequality
Legal expert tells Canadian court polygamy prohibitions and monogamy tradition pre-date Christianity
B.C. government expert in polygamy case sets out long list of social harms, societies that abandon polygamy do better
Polygamy expert tells court in constitutional case that it reduces women's freedom and equality and leads to forced marriage
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
Bountiful evidence that polygamy harms women and children - constitutional case likely to reach Canadian Supreme Court
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
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
Author who escaped abuse in US polygamy cult explains why Canadian constitutional case is so important in both countries
Evidence in Canadian polygamy case shows Mormon leader trafficked his daughters and other child brides to US
Religious practice not above the law, polygamy consumes its young says Attorney General of BC in closing argument
Summary of positions in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy as court begins hearing final oral arguments
Lawyer says extraordinary evidence in Canadian case shows polygamous society consumes children, harms women
A review of the Canadian constitutional case on polygamy after completion of testimonies
Canadian Muslim polygamists closely watching landmark constitutional case on Canadian polygamy law
Economics professor considers financial aspects of polygamy that create inequality
Legal expert tells Canadian court polygamy prohibitions and monogamy tradition pre-date Christianity
B.C. government expert in polygamy case sets out long list of social harms, societies that abandon polygamy do better
Polygamy expert tells court in constitutional case that it reduces women's freedom and equality and leads to forced marriage
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
Bountiful evidence that polygamy harms women and children - constitutional case likely to reach Canadian Supreme Court
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
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
Religious practice not above the law, polygamy consumes its young says Attorney General of BC in closing argument
Summary of positions in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy as court begins hearing final oral arguments
Summary of positions in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy as court begins hearing final oral arguments
Lawyer fighting Canadian polygamy law says it violates religious freedom, need new law against forced marriage
BC Civil Liberties Association lawyer defends adult human rights in polygamy case, no mention of children's rights
BC Civil Liberties Association tells Canadian court law against polygamy violates personal freedoms, should be scrapped
BC government failed to act on evidence of child bride trafficking after 2008 Texas raid on polygamists
Canadian Muslim polygamists closely watching landmark constitutional case on Canadian polygamy law
Rape charge dropped in plea deal for FLDS man who married 14 year old cousin, pleads guilty to lesser charges
Jeffs retakes legal control of FLDS from prison, court rules Utah illegally took over sect's property trust
Intellectual abuse of Mormon fundamentalist children means few will finish high school or go to college
Final arguments in Canadian constitutional hearing on polygamy will be broadcast on TV and Web
Canadian polygamy case hears evidence on high rates of teen pregnancies in fundamentalist Mormon community
Canadian polygamy case hears additional witnesses, school that intellectually abuses children given top ranking
Polygamy prohibition is a reasonable limit on religious freedom to protect the equality rights of women and children
Polygamy prohibition is a reasonable limit on religious freedom to protect the equality rights of women and children
For Mormon polygamists in Canadian case religious freedom means enslaving women, sexualizing girls, exploiting boys
Two more plural wives testify in Canadian polygamy case, see no problem with forced marriage or trafficking child brides
Testimony of first FLDS witness in Canadian polygamy case reveals women in denial that their children are being abused
First anonymous FLDS witness in Canadian polygamy case paints cosy picture of plural marriage, seems oblivious to abuses
Affidavit in Canadian polygamy case reveals shocking statistics on child trafficking, child brides and teen mothers in Bountiful
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
Two more plural wives testify in Canadian polygamy case, see no problem with forced marriage or trafficking child brides
Testimony of first FLDS witness in Canadian polygamy case reveals women in denial that their children are being abused
First anonymous FLDS witness in Canadian polygamy case paints cosy picture of plural marriage, seems oblivious to abuses
Affidavit in Canadian polygamy case reveals shocking statistics on child trafficking, child brides and teen mothers in Bountiful
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
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
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment