AN organisation which pushes for zero tolerance of pedophiles and sex
offenders is working to Increase its profile in Tasmania.
The Movement Against Kindred Offenders (MAKO), which started in Victoria in
1998 and is now South Australian-based, has recently appointed a Tasmanian
woman to promote the group in Tasmania.
Janine Buckley of Hobart, is keen to increase the numbers of members in the
group.
The group was started jointly by Kylie Newman, a victim of sexual abuse as a
child, and Peter Morell who continue to drive the organisation.
MAKO says it aims to raise public and political awareness for a zero
tolerance policy for child sex offenders and sex offenders in Australia to
prevent further victims and deter further offenders.
It maintains a free online list of convicted Australian pedophiles and sex
offenders, and provides referral to victims and those close to victims to
help people locate a service which can help them.
As well, MAKO members have notified more than 60 Australian communities of
convicted pedophiles-sex offenders living secretly among them.
This has not yet happened in Tasmania but could in the future, according to
Ms Newman.
The online list of almost 1000 people convicted of pedophilia-sex offences,
which MAKO admits is not complete details the existing ages of offenders and
the state or territory of the offender at the time of the offences.
MAKO also aims to lobby governments for mandatory lengthy jail sentences, to
establish a national publicly accessible register of convicted
pedophiles-sex offenders, and community notification when a convicted sex
offender moves into a neighbourhood.
Mrs Buckley said she was prompted to become an active member of MAKO from
disgust at the meagre sentences pedophiles in particular received.
She said: "Usually the penalties are disgustingly low. It makes me sick - I
thought I could make a difference with sentencing and make it a safer place
for kids."
Mrs Buckley rejected the claim that MAKO activities persecuted pedophiles
and other sex offenders.
"The public has a right to know to better protect themselves and their
children," she said.
"A lot of pedophiles move next door to pre-scnools and primary schools and
other areas where children go, like playgrounds, and people aren't aware.
"As well the offenders, who come from all walks of life and ages, may get
involved with children through sports, scout, or church groups.
The re-offending rate of pedophiles and sex offenders is very high, with
more than 80 per cent re-offending."
Mrs Buckley said residents, schools and kindergartens should be notified
when a convicted sex offender moved into a community.
"We feel the community's rights to protect ourselves and our children
outweigh the pedophile's rights to privacy," she said.
She said for victims of child sex abuse the impact was worse than for almost
any other crime.
Two thirds of sex crimes in Australia were against children.
"It stay's with you for a long, long time and when they become adults the
victims can have problems with relationships."
She said the statistics on pedophilia were far too high with one in four
girls, and one in seven boys, suffering some form of sexual abuse.
On average one offender would abuse between 45 and 135 children.
"There was one man who kept records on 2500 children he had abused," she
said.
"Prevention has to be the priority."
The MAKO online listing of convicted offenders is mainly without pictures
except for about 60 people.
However, Ms Newman said the list was still very effective, and people were
welcome to contact MAKO if they had further inquiries.
She said MAKO's prevention-awareness campaigns led to the public reporting
information which was passed on to police.
Ms Newman said child sexual abuse inflicted a life sentence on the victim
and is a factor in the rise of youth suicide.
For further information go to www.mako.org.au.