The Issue

• Children are sexually abused by trusted adults at an alarming rate. 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 13 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

• Because of the unimaginable pain and trauma inflicted on victims, survivors are unable to come forward to face their abusers until much later in life. Through the science of delayed disclosure we know over half of survivors of child sexual abuse do not come forward until ages 50 - 70, with the average being age 52,   one-third never come forward.

• SOLs for CSA serve sexual predators, and bad-acting institutions, NOT children

• The extremely narrow statute of limitations in Colorado (6 years) prohibits victims of child sexual abuse from pursuing civil claims against their abusers.

• Since victims of child sexual abuse are unable to hold these predators accountable,

• Victims are unable to have their justice and begin to heal, and

• The predators are allowed to stay in the jobs where they inevitably will continue to sexually abuse children.  

The Solution – Pass the Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Amendment

Let the voters of Colorado decide. The amendment ensures victims of child sexual abuse will be able to hold their abusers accountable. Once that happens, these abusers will be removed from the trusted positions they currently hold. Those who have abused kids will no longer be in the system that enabled that abuse. We cannot act to protect kids and hold these predators accountable unless we pass the amendment.

• Shift the burden off of the victims of sexual abuse and the Colorado taxpayer, and put that burden on the predators responsible for this abuse.

• Keeps kids safe: prevents child sexual abusers from causing further harm.

• Bring Colorado in line with the 27 other states that already refuse to allow these abusers to avoid accountability.

• If we do not pass this amendment, it is impossible to hold these abusers accountable.

27 states have passed similar laws, supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse. We must give survivors of child sexual abuse the right to hold those who prey on the innocent accountable.

Background

In 2021, Colorado joined 27 other states and three territories with the passage of the Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Act (SB21-088), a bold step allowing survivors of childhood sexual abuse to pursue civil claims whose statute of limitations had already expired. The law was recently overturned by the CO State Supreme Court. A Constitutional Amendment is required to allow victims of child sexual abuse to hold their abusers accountable.

Social and Economic Costs of Abuse

Childhood sexual abuse not only inflicts profound psychological and physical harm to survivors, leading to depression, PTSD, and chronic pain but also imposes a significant economic burden, averaging $282,000 per victim over a lifetime. Survivors and taxpayers unfairly shoulder this cost. 

If referred, this proposed amendment will allow the General Assembly to shift the cost of childhood sexual abuse from victims and society to perpetrators and institutions that cover up abuse.

About Justice for Abused Children 

This amendment is a critical step toward justice for survivors and preventative action against future abuse. Justice for Abused Children is an issue committee registered with the Colorado Secretary of State. Its purpose is to support voter passage of an amendment to the Colorado Constitution to permit victims of childhood sexual abuse to bring a civil claim for sexual abuse regardless of when the sexual abuse occurred. 

Supporters of Justice For Abused Children and SCR 24-001: 

• Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA)

• Child US Advocacy

• Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center (RMvlc)

• Wings Foundation

• COBALT

• Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA)

• Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA)

• Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR)

• AFT

• Community Investment Alliance

• Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

• Violence Free Colorado

• Colorado Office of the Child’s Representative

• National Council of Jewish Women of Colorado 

• One Colorado

• Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives Task Force of Colorado 

• Haseya Advocate Program

• Interfaith Alliance of Colorado

• Kid Power Colorado

• Colorado Human Trafficking Council

• Mariposa Center for Safety

• Project Safeguard

• Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police

• Southern Ute Indian Tribe

• Colorado PTA

• Business and Professional Women of Colorado

Colorado District Attorneys: Alexis King, Brian Mason, Michael Dougherty, Beth McCann, Heidi McCollum, Gordon McGlaughlin, Christian Champagne