The Survivors of Child Sex Abuse Who Don’t Want Their Abusers Punished

This article was written by Roxanna Asgarian and published in The New Republic.

***CONTENT WARNING: The featured article includes descriptions of child sexual abuse.***

This article by Roxanna Asgarian highlights the stories of survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) who seek safety and justice outside of punitive systems. The piece challenges deeply ingrained assumptions that punishment and family separation are the best ways to protect children–when in many cases, they create more harm. Stigma, punitive approaches, and the fear of having their lives disrupted often force young people into silence.

We must center the needs of survivors, focusing our attention on healing and self-determination rather than failed systems of punishment and isolation.