Immediately I thought I was being asked this question because she already did not believe me. Im terribly concerned about that, said OBrien. She is not ashamed of the sexual abuse she endured as a child and, instead, feels inspired to put a face and voice on childhood sexual abuse. Merryn now had a duty as a big sister to protect her younger sibling. After reading that letter, a switch flipped inside Erin. It can happen to anyone, which is why we need to empower our children with their voice to speak up and tell and to not keep it a secret if they are abused. You've grown into a powerful voice who is bearing witness to the nation. She is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for . Lawmakers are in the dark about this. I also encourage parents to have a code word with their kids, she said. [5] But where were the eight ways on how to "get away and tell today?" The book is titled "Stolen Innocence." Erin decided at a young age to take a stand against evil and expose the silent epidemic of child sexual abuse in the spotlight. Erin Merryn is a powerful speaker and advocate for countless, faceless children and adults in our country who have similarly suffered sexual abuse. After it was republished by Health Communications in early 2005, she began traveling the nation telling her story about the sexual abuse she endured at hundreds of high schools, colleges, sexual assault centers, child abuse conferences and community events. Stolen Innocencewas published soon after. Author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today I always feared he would come back. Merryn cautions that you can never just go by how many registered sex offenders are in your area. That is just (in) America. The Church Sex Abuse Scandals Around the World, Child-Abuse Case Reveals Vietnam's Lax Social Services, (Read why most child abuse goes unreported). Please join Erin Merryn in her crusade to protect children from sexual abuse and donate to help her with her travel expenses today! Instead of putting their daughters through further emotional trauma of a criminal trial, Erins parents decided not to press charges. Merryn kept her confusion to herself. He threatened her to stay silent so she kept her secrets locked away in her childhood diary. Erin wanted nothing more than to make him feel the hurt that she did. She is an activist against child sexual abuse. After her parents decided to move Erin's abuse ended but only brought her that much closer to her next abuser, an older teenage cousin who lived . Acting out both at home and in school, she was given an IEP (Individual Education Plan) and was told she was just going through a phase; that her parents brief separation was the probable root cause. ABC News agreed to use her pen name and a false name for the man she says abused her. In 1998 seventy five thousand six hundred and forty seven abused children were seen in one hundred and thirty nine Children's Advocacy Centers in America. But instead of telling everyone to vote against it, she told everyone to vote in support of this bill. She has now dedicated her life to protecting our nations children. Erin Merryn's memoir is about how her life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted."I thought when the abuse stopped I could move on with my life. Merryn: There is so much shame and stigma attached to sexual abuse. Erin's Law, named after Erin Merryn, has passed in 36 states and is pending in the other 14. COURIER/JOELLYN CURRY But at age 11, Merryn's second nightmare began. I will come get you, I know where you live, Erin recalled. Download it here. Thinking she had finally escaped the endless sexual abuse, Merryn, the keynote speaker at the Sept. 26 luncheon, was once again sexually abused by a cousin beginning at the age of 11 at a family home in Lake Geneva. (2013) I just figured I told my mom, and I never had to talk about this again. The ability to forgive both my abusers set me free and gave me my voice back and the strength to speak out for others. Did anything make you an attractive target, or particularly vulnerable? Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, An Unimaginable Act, Bailey No Ordinary Cat, and The Diary of a Cat Named Carrot. I eventually would return back to the room I was interviewed in nine months later when I began doing individual counseling but was still not ready to go there into details the shame overwhelmed me however I did learn to finally stop blaming myself for what happened to my younger sister and my entire family. Now, thanks to state Sen. Anthony R. Bucco, children of the Garden State may soon benefit from Merryns harrowing experience, knowledge and hope. I will not stop until children in all 50 states are protected from sexual abuse.". The words of my cousin began haunting me. Erin Merryn is a 21-year-old college sophomore who wrote a book, "Stolen Innocence: Memoir," about her struggles after she claims she was molested by her first cousin. Someone should have known in my earlier years when I was being abused by an adult neighbor. It wasnt until Erin was 13 and found out the same thing was happening to her little sister (then age 11), that she decided she needed to speak out. The look in this mans eyes, the color shirt he was wearing and the last thing he said to me, Dont you dare tell anybody. She is an activist against child sexual abuse. Who were they? The family pressed charges against Brian, who ultimately admitted to three counts of sexual abuse. Children must be taught to tell a trusted adult if anyone touches their private parts. He did respond admitting what he did and saying he is using his past to not make the same mistakes now in his life. EN RU CN DE ES. It just turned into a screaming match between my mom and his mom, your son did this, your girls are liars, remembered Erin. Merryn said the abuse only stopped because her family moved away. Merryn lay on blankets on the floor next to Ashley, who was in her bed. The yearly videos had educated me, so I knew to tell the stranger to keep his change. Learn More. Merryn: I was terrified. But only 1 in every 10 sexually abused children ever tell anyone about it. Erin Merryn, 30, a child sexual abuse survivor and creator of the legislation, said schools generally fail to give young students adequate awareness and a voice on the issue of sexual abuse. You will eventually hear about this law being passed in all 50 states, and I plan on one day taking it and making it international, said Erin. House Bill 105 overwhelminglypassed the Ohio Housea year ago. This went on for a month before police got involved. MORE: Monmouth U. faces federal sexual assault case. Erin said they just wanted to make sure their nephew got help. Statistics show that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18. I will fight alongside Erin and the advocates right here in our community until the day that this lifesaving legislation finally becomes law.. My mom was a mess, that day she probably cried for 10 straight hours, looking at my dad saying, we missed all the red flags, her grades, she was depressed, Erin recalled. But what followed was depression,an eating disorder and a suicide attempt. I wanted to know why, and when I asked if he was abused, he denied it and said he abused me out of curiosity and an urge of sexuality. However, Merryn said this time the perpetrator was an older cousin, someone she had viewed as a brother figure. Behind those numbers are the faces of innocent children whose childhoods were shattered by actions of evil and sickness. I feel it would have given me the voice that these men took from me. Merryn: I have witnessed some lawmakers come in voting against the bill who got on their mic after hearing me testify and (told) me they had all planned to vote against this bill and that my testimony changed their mind. Erins Law encourages research based curriculum, Merryn said. I guess what I was trying to ask is, why do you think your abusers chose you instead of some other girl as a target? Merryn is now taking her fight to the state of Alabama. I went to bed night after night crying into my pillow having nightmares, and keeping my secrets locked away in my childhood diary., Merryn found her voice at 13 when her younger sister said the words shell never forget: Brians gross!. Erin Elizabeth was sexually abused from 11-13 by her older cousin. Through her personal diary, written during the years of her abuse, Erin shares her journey through pain and confusion to inner strength and, ultimately, forgiveness. Under Erins Law, the New Jersey Commissioner of Education must provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement. The brilliant minds behind putting in place a center that had a home away from home feeling to give children a sense of security and comfort.At thirteen was the age I walked through the CAC. 35. He knows the parts covered by his underwear and bathing suit arent for anyone to touch or see and he knows who safe people are if he ever needs help with something. [3], She graduated from Schaumburg High School in 2004[4] and earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Western Illinois University in 2008. It was the first federal bill passed funding sexual abuse prevention education. A voice that flies across America and speaks at many of these CAC's that exist taking people back to my experience at the CAC and this time sharing all the details because I no longer carry the shame but instead a voice bringing awareness to these incredible centers that give children a new start on life and a path toward healing. Her older cousin sexually abused her from 11-13 years old. At age 11, Erin fell victim again. When Merryn eventually confided in Ashley about what had happened, her friend was not surprised; in fact, the scene was depressingly familiar to her. The path to justice for survivors of sexual assault is not an easy road. The revelation caused tension in the family. After graduating, Erin went on to earn her Masters degree in social work, but from time to time she would still consult her little pink childhood diary. He cornered her in basements, bathrooms and bedrooms, always reminding her that she shouldn't bother telling anyone because no one would believe her. InDecember 2015 President Obama signed thefederal version of Erin's Law providing federal funding for schools to use. Details Eleven-year-old Erin Merryn's life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. Did you ever wonder, or ever ask him, why he did what he did? Erin Merryn detailed the treatment and help she received from the Children's Advocacy Center, which has 900 locations across the U.S.A. - a safe environment for children to share their stories of abuse. Today there are more then 700 Children Advocacy Centers in America and millions of children have walked through those doors.Before there were CAC's children were interviewed numerous times in places such as police stations. Erin is a mom to three little girls. The reality is, 93 percent of the time it is not strangers that are hurting kids. Eleven states have passed the legislation. She urged kids to come forward if they or someone they know is being sexually abused. 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