Thank you for that introduction. Yes, my name is Diane Champe´. And the best way to tell you about myself is to use a word which forms part of my last name: Champ. When you look in the dictionary, champ means a courageous fighter which describes me perfectly. So far in my life I have gone 4 rounds in the ring which I will describe for you today.
Round 1: I start the fight of my life full of innocence and wonder but after 21 years of being isolated by my parents and mentally, physically, emotionally and sexually abused, I return to my corner so brutally traumatized that I am covered from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet with hives and the pupils in eyes are usually dilated.
Round 2: When the bell rings, I am now married and have started working at an entry level job for a Fortune 100 company. I come out swinging, bound and determined to make it to the top convinced I had what it took to be a winner. And I was, for a time. By the time I was 33 years old, I had a beautiful home, 4 cars, and stayed at the Waldorf Astoria when I flew to New York. I then found out my brother was sexually abusing my 4 year old niece, my husband divorced me, and I entered a psychiatric hospital. The wind was totally knocked out of me by the time the bell rang again.
Round 3: When I come out of my corner for this next round, I am completely disoriented, dazed, and full of rage. My company fires me. Still on my feet, though, and fighting desperately to keep my sanity, I file a lawsuit and win. However, this third round involves 23 years in therapy and 5 hospitalizations. I stumble exhausted to my corner and lick my wounds.
Round 4: I am now retired, in a loving relationship, full of wisdom, and determined to fight society's ignorance and denial about the impact of child sexual abuse.
I have always believed that the hardest thing to do in life is to look at reality and then do something about it. I've done that all my life for myself. The next round of my fight is for those children and survivors who can't speak for themselves and to give them hope that no matter how hard the struggle, it can be worked through.
1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually assaulted in the United States before they reach the age of 18.
In the United States in 2004, Child Protective Services verified that over 900,000 children were abused. Who knows how many went unreported.
The United States Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect has concluded that child abuse and neglect in the United States now represents a national emergency. And yet, in my 58 years, I have never heard one Congressman, one Senator, one church official or even the President of the United States get on public television and say point blank, "It is not all right to physically, mentally, emotionally, or sexually abuse children."
We must Stop the Silence about child sexual abuse. Homeland security begins in the home. I have a list of leaders who can make a difference. I want each and every one of you to write them and tell them to work to stop the sexualization and traumatization of children. Let all children know we will not remain silent anymore.
I've done the first part through my therapy and now speaking publicly. You can help me with the second part by writing letters in sharing in my hope of stopping child abuse.
Thank you very much.
|
