Hatcher speaks of sexual abuse as a child

American actress Teri Hatcher has delivered a tearful speech in which she addressed being sexually molested by her uncle 35 years ago.

“Recently I had the honour, really, of being able to come forward and help raise awareness of some violence against women,” the 41-year-old star of US television drama Desperate Housewives said in Beverly Hills, California.

She was speaking during a news conference to announce plans for the third annual Women’s World Awards.

Hatcher was referring to a recent Vanity Fair interview in which she revealed being molested by her uncle when she was five years old and living in Sunnyvale.

When she learned in 2002 that a 14-year-old victim of her uncle had committed suicide, Hatcher approached Santa Clara County prosecutors.

After Hatcher came forward, her uncle, Richard Hayes Stone, pleaded guilty to four counts of child molestation in the case of the 14-year-old victim and received 14 years in prison.

“There are many women who suffer with these traumatic experiences their whole lives, and they keep those things a secret,” Hatcher said.