Child Abuse in Canadian Military

by Sheila E.
(Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Canadian Military Members Sexual Abusing Children as Young as 12: 
I am 42 years old. When I was 11 or 12 years old I was raped by an acquaintance of one of my older sisters. The man was between 25 and 30. He was in the Canadian Navy, posted here in Halifax.

I was staying with an older sister for the summer here in Halifax, because there was abuse at home.

It happened while I was sleeping, or pretended to be sleeping, when what he was doing woke me. When the man stood up to take off his pants, I heard his belt rattle so I turned over onto my side on the sofa. When he saw me turn onto my side he knew he could not penetrate and started to call me every dirty name in the book.

The next day this sorry excuse for a man was still so angry at me. He grabbed my collar and made a fist and went to punch me in the face. That was when one my sister's brothers-in-law threatened to kill this navy man if he ever laid a hand on me again.

Thank God that was the last time I saw him. But not the last time I was abused or raped by a member of the Canadian Navy.

The news stories lately about child sexual abuse by members of the Canadian Military* brought those memories flooding back. It's been 30 years since the first abuse by a CF (Canadian Forces) member, and I've suffered from mental illnesses as long as I can remember. I've been told I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because of the abuses I suffered at the hands of child molesters.

I ended up marrying a navy man in 1988(that abusive marriage ended last year).

I've been trying to get help from the CF, but I'm literally laughed at and even given the run around by the Canadian
Minister of Veterans Affairs (my husband is no longer a serving CF member.)

The CF's Defense Minister Peter MacKay said this week that something will be done. What will be done, Mr. Mackay? Another sensitivity course? How did that work out for the CF'S members of the HEMAN WOMAN HATERS CLUB a few years back?

I would like to thank you very much for allowing me to write about this. I would like nothing but to stop letting those men continue to ruin my life. I want to stop being victimized, to stop the constant thoughts of suicide that have tortured me. Even during those long times alone with my son while my husband was at sea.

* Pertains to allegations of sexual abuse of young people by older members of the military contained in a draft report done through the Military Police Criminal Intelligence Program for the period from 2004 to June, 2008.

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