FamilyWatchdog.us and Human Rights Watch have engaged in frank and open discussions concerning the Human Rights Watch report “No Easy Answers: Sex Offender laws in the US.”
Through our conversations, we acknowledge that we share the goal of preventing sexual violence and living in a world one day where there are no more victims. We disagree about the risk registered sex offenders pose to the public and the fairness and usefulness of current sex offender laws. Human Rights Watch stands by its report’s conclusions and recommendations, and FamilyWatchdog.us strongly disagrees with the report’s findings.
But both organizations are committed to constructive dialogue that will focus public attention on the full nature of sexual violence in this country and the best way to prevent it.
In addition, FamilyWatchdog.us announces an initiative to allow offenders or other interested parties to submit certified court documents detailing an offender’s sex offense convictions to FamilyWatchdog.us. Visitors will be able to view these documents in order to assess the risk the offender may pose. Additional information about this free program may be found at http://www.familywatchdog.us/submitcourtdocs.asp.
FamilyWatchdog.us and Human Rights Watch will continue to discuss with one another ways in which they might work together on issues where they are able to find common ground. For example, both organizations support the removal from registries of individuals who pose no-risk to the community and the need for more public awareness about the nature of sexual violence and more resources for support and treatment of survivors of sexual violence.
There is truly no silver bullet to stop sexual assaults, and there is much work to be done. We ask everyone to join us in this effort to make our communities safer places to live.
--Human Rights Watch and FamilyWatchdog.us
