Ms. Foundation for Women Fellow Lindsay Rosenthal speaks out about child sexual abuse and girls in the juvenile justice system in today's New York Times (March 14, 2014). Responding to an article about access to health care for incarcerated people, Lindsay shines a light on the particular obstacles that girl in the juvenile justice system face -- especially those who are victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

Ms. Foundation for Women grantee the VERA Institute for Justice has published an important new report, "Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities: A National Snapshot."

Here is an excerpt:

Children with disabilities are three times more likely than children without them to be victims of sexual 
abuse, and the likelihood is even higher for children with certain types of disabilities, such as intellectual or mental health disabilities.

However, sexual abuse of children with disabilities has not garnered the attention of policymakers, 
practitioners, advocates, or community members. These children are also less likely to receive victim services and supports that are more readily available to other victims because of a variety of factors including barriers to reporting and a lack of responses tailored to meet their unique needs. Without receiving support, these children suffer serious long-term aftereffects, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, as well as an increased risk of victimization in adulthood.

Click here to read the entire report.