In addition, sexually active girls between 11 and 13 who are having sexual
relationships with men more than five years older than themselves are
significantly more likely to attempt suicide.
We live in a sex-obsessed culture in which girls are more vulnerable to sexual
predators than at any time in our nation's history. Any parent who thinks their
daughter is not a potential victim is fooling themselves.
Read the LDI Special Report on Child Predators
America's epidemic of child sexual abuse is being driven by several factors, one
of which is technology. The image most people have of men who prey on underage
girls is that of a pervert in a trench coat lurking around a school playground.
The reality is that today's perverts are far more likely to be lurking around in
Internet chat rooms. Technology is making it easier for men who prey on young
girls to acquire victims, while dramatically reducing the chances they will be caught.
In addition, children today are much more involved in activities outside their
homes and schools than ever before. Our research indicates that girls who are
sexually exploited by adult men very often meet their abuser as a result of one
of these activities.
Sexual activity with underage children is illegal in all 50 states. Every state
also mandates that if a healthcare worker has reason to suspect that an underage
girl is being sexually abused, they are required by law to report that
information to child protective services or another agency designated by the
state. That agency is then responsible to investigate the possibility that the
child may be the victim of sexual abuse or statutory rape. The important point
is that a healthcare worker is required to report the incident, not
investigate it.
Laws list health care workers as State mandated reporters of child abuse
The pregnancy of an underage girl is evidence that she may be the victim of
sexual abuse and, therefore, any healthcare worker who has contact with a
pregnant underage girl has an obligation to initiate a report to their state's
designated agency. The job of determining whether or not the circumstances
that led to this girl's pregnancy are criminal lies solely with child protective
services or the state agency to which the report is mandated.
Moreover, the fact that a minor girl may be lawfully allowed to have an abortion
or secure birth control without her parents being informed is irrelevant.
The law still mandates reporting of the sexual activity to the state.
Abortion providers and agencies that refer for abortion are underreporting the
incidence of statutory rape, a form of sexual abuse, that regularly comes to
their attention during the provision of abortion "family planning services"
to girls that are under the age of consent.
Every state has a law requiring healthcare providers to report
possible child abuse and there are criminal sanctions for not reporting contacts with minors
when evidence exists that such abuse may be occurring. Additionally, each
state also defines "child abuse" by statute - and most states specifically note
that the "physician-patient privilege" does not override the requirement to
report suspected cases of possible abuse.
When this sexual abuse is not reported, underage girls continue to be
victimized by adult criminals because these criminals are not caught. Still,
the abortion industry encourages "family planning service" providers not to
report this abuse. Worse yet, the abortion industry enables the continued
abuse of these girls by providing them with contraceptives, which makes
underage girls even more accessible to sexual predators.
