– Madness, says news profiler Linn Wiik, who tells her own and the female family member’s history of abuse in a new book. In the book entitled “This can be our secret”, Linn Wiik describes his own upbringing in safe surroundings in Telemark. Wiik worked for several years as a journalist at TV2 and is now employed by news. VG and Dagbladet mentioned the case first. The first abuse When she was twelve years old, she experienced that a male family member, whom she knew well, liked and trusted, sexually assaulted her. The shame and fear of not being believed contributed to the fact that it took a long time before she told anyone about what had happened. Only several years later, when the family member became the father of a daughter, did she dare to report the relationship. It took many years before Wiik had enough courage to report the abuser. The fear that he would also prey on his own children became decisive. Photo: Hanna Johre / news The man was prosecuted and found guilty of assaulting Wiik and served six months in prison. The man denied having assaulted himself, but Wiik’s detailed diary entries over several years as well as the discovery of child abuse material on the man’s computer contributed to the conviction. – Today, it takes an average of 17 years for someone to report that they have been abused. And silence is what makes abuse possible. Silence is the abuser’s best friend, says Wiik. After the family member served time for abusing Wiik, he retained custody of his own young children. In the book, Wiik describes that she was worried that the man would do the same to his daughter as he had done to her. Condemned again When the man’s daughter turned 13, the father was reported for several sexual assaults against her as well. The father was arrested and charged with assault. He denied having done what he was charged with, but passed a motion for keeping child abuse material. In court, the man was found guilty of assault and sentenced to two years in prison. – In all the conversations with her in recent years, where we have talked about everything that has happened, there is one thing that she has said that has just stuck with me, and that is that we think we protect ourselves when we don’t tell, but it’s the abusers we really protect when we don’t say anything, says Wiik. The female family member reported the father for sexual abuse when she was 13 years old. Today, Wiik and the woman have a strong bond. Photo: Hanna Johre / news The law protects adults Linn Wiik has collaborated with the woman and both mothers in the work on the book. She is strongly critical of the fact that those convicted of assault do not automatically lose custody of their own children. – If you have been convicted of assault, you will not be allowed to work in a nursery, or as a teacher or football coach. But you can have full access to your own children. And I think that’s completely crazy. – And it shows, as unfortunately in many areas when it comes to child abuse, that adults are put above the children. And that you protect the adults and parents more than you protect their children. It’s an important message for us, and we can’t have it like that, says Wiik. Has never admitted guilt news has been in contact with the man convicted of assault. He has read Wiik’s book and the following statement from the man, which is reproduced in the book, is also given to news: “I have been introduced to the script. A number of accusations against me have no basis in reality. I have never admitted any guilt in the matter. When I received the verdict, I was strongly advised not to appeal due to the victim’s state of health. I followed this advice, even though it has been difficult to leave the matter alone. As things have now developed, it is important for me to stress that I feel wrongly convicted. We are now working on a petition to reopen the entire case.” Criticizes the law Inga Marte Thorkildsen, who is public relations at Stine Sofies Stiftelse, has read Linn Wiik’s book. Inga Marte Thorkildsen believes that children who are exposed to violence and abuse have too little protection. Photo: Christopher Isachsen Sandøy / news – Linn Wiik’s book shows what we have seen for many years: We protect abusers and perpetrators of violence much better than we protect children, says Thorkildsen. She believes that the Norwegian legislation gives children who are exposed to violence and abuse poor protection in matters of contact and care. – We are learning that denial and trivialization are the rule rather than the exception in many of these cases. This applies not only in families, but also in systems that should have protected the children, says Thorkildsen. The Storting will soon deal with a new Children’s Act, which regulates, among other things, parents’ access rights to their children. – Not for children’s best Children’s court lawyer Maria Stråtveit tells news that in current Norwegian regulations, there is no connection between an abuse conviction and custody rights for one’s own children. Cases of abuse and care follow two separate legal tracks; criminal law and civil law. – In order for custody rights to be assessed, a report of concern must be sent to child protection and/or the other parent must bring proceedings under the Children’s Act to deprive the parent convicted of abuse of custody rights, says Stråtveit. Stråtveit believes that convicts of abuse retain custody of their own children is a big risk for the children. – This is problematic because it is clearly not in the best interest of children and does not fulfill our obligations for children growing up in Norway. Norway is obliged to safeguard children’s best interests and protect children from abuse. The lack of legal regulation of the connection between an abuse conviction and custody rights for children puts children of abusers in a care situation with a high risk of being exposed to abuse, she says. Published 06.09.2024, at 13.07
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news profile Linn Wiik opens up about childhood abuse – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
