ANARCHIST QUESTION AND ANSWER Q. How would an anarchist society deal with sexual crimes? A. The standard answer that many anarchists give when confronted with this question is that sexual crimes would decrease in a society based on the free expression of sexuality. Unfortunately this answer doesn¹t even come close to answering the question asked. Whether a more open attitude to sexuality decreases crimes of a sexual nature is difficult to say, what is undeniable is that anarchist societies will have to deal with sexual predators. If the problem is not discussed and guidelines are not set, it¹s probable that sexual crimes will continue to be a major problem in an anarchist community. The epidemic of sexual crimes that have been and continue to be committed against children have to a large degree occurred because adults in a position of authority have had almost unlimited power in their dealings with children. This combined with easy access to children, communities not willing to even discuss the possibility of sexual abuse and a culture of silence which blames the victim for the sexual abuse, combine and set the necessary preconditions for widespread sexual abuse of children. The problem of sexual abuse isn¹t exclusively a patriarchal, heterosexual or homosexual problem, it¹s a problem that exists in all cultures where the division of power is a problem. The greater the power held by an individual, whether in a family setting among workmates or friends in the community or in a institutionalised sense, the greater the level of sexual abuse. Ways in which sexual abuse can be combated, but not eliminated, include education about what is and isn¹t sexual abuse, the breakdown of inequalities between individuals whether institutionalised or non-institutionalised, exposure at the first hint of a problem and promoting individual financial independence. Practical ways of dealing with the possibility of sexual abuse include electing or appointing members of the community who act as points of first call for potential victims if there is a hint of a problem. Individuals within the community having the power to call a meeting to discuss a potential problem. The community involved having the power to set limits on the freedom individuals have who have been accused and found guilty of sexual crimes and long term compulsory counselling. What most experts agree on, is that imprisonment does not alter behaviour. In many cases imprisonment makes the problem worse as many people imprisoned for sexual crimes continue to re-offend when released. Sexual abuse is a universal human problem that has dogged all cultures and all societies. Those societies that openly discuss the problem break down the inequalities that exist between people. They provide an easy framework for reporting the problem and attempt to deal with cases of sexual abuse openly and quickly incorporate counselling and treatment for offenders, as well as restrict re-offenders access to potential victims, are those that have the best chance of managing a problem that poses a challenge for all societes including anarchist societies. FROM http://www.ainfos.ca/ainfos12250.html Remind me to send them APster 1.0 when its released.