Rape case ruling: Girl Guides call for action
How can we as youth leaders facing a summer of local and regional camp outings take our precious charges away on such trips, promising parents we will look after them, while there is no law that promises the same?
The Irish Girl Guides are planning an international camp for 2007. Invitations have gone out to guiding and scouting organisations around the world who will be bringing to our shores many girls aged 12.
How can we, in all good conscience, stand by that invitation to protect those children when our laws cannot?
As an organisation we are calling on our Government representatives — the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, and the Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan — immediately to enact legislation that will protect our children and give peace of mind to parents, volunteers, and all who are responsible for our most vulnerable citizens.
Maureen Dillon, chairperson of the Irish Girl Guides programme and training committee, expressed it best when she commented:
“I am appalled by what has happened. I feel that the Government has been remiss in their tardiness in not introducing immediate legislation to block this loophole, which has already seen a convicted sex offender set free. With laws in place, it was hard enough to protect children. It would appear that now there is no protection for any of the children of Ireland.”
The Irish Girl Guides join their voice with all of the other youth organisations around the country who have expressed their horror that this situation has been allowed to occur.
We strongly urge the Government to act immediately on this crucially important issue.
Susan Griffin
PRO
The Irish Girl Guides
27 Pembroke Park
Dublin 4
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