– I am the child of an abuser, says Liv (21). A few years ago, Liv’s father was convicted of sexual assault and online assault against several people she knew well. – Legally, I was not defined as an affected party in the case. Therefore, I received no information during the trial or after he was imprisoned. Liv believes she should know when her father is released from prison, so that she does not have to meet him by chance. – Not getting information creates anxiety, insecurity and uncertainty. I have no control over my own life. I should be entitled to that information because he is my father, she says. Liv says that it is difficult to move forward when you do not get any information about the father’s situation. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news Today, only direct victims and survivors of murder can be entitled to information about leave, parole or sentencing outside prison. Because Liv herself is not a direct victim of her father’s crime, the prison is not allowed to notify her when her father is going out. – You are disenfranchised. I hear from others that they have suddenly seen him on leave in the local area. It is very difficult to deal with, says Liv. Now she hopes that changes will be made to the law so that children of inmates do not have to experience the same thing. – I share my story so that children can have a safe environment and get the information they need for a safe upbringing. The worst thing is that I have never been told anything, says Liv. Must a change to Life told its story when Stine Sofie’s Foundation presented a new report during Arendal Week. – As of today, children of inmates, who are not offended themselves, are excluded from the law. They should not be notified of anything, says Endre Bendixen, who is the foundation’s legal advisor. During Arendalsuka, the foundation presented its new report “Your worst nightmare is the life you live”. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news He has helped prepare the report. Now the foundation is asking for more changes to the law. They want children in Liv’s situation to have the right to be notified if convicted parents are to move outside the walls. The foundation wants notification to become a requirement. They also want more people affected to have this right. Today, it is the Correctional Service that assesses whether survivors or victims should be notified. – There should be a notification obligation for both victims, survivors and children of inmates in cases involving physical violence, psychological violence, sexual assault and murder, Bendixen believes. news has previously told the story of the parents of a murder victim, who were not notified that the perpetrator was out of prison: Affects many children Faren til Liv was one of the men who was sentenced after the major online rape case “Operation Dark Room”. According to a survey carried out by A magazine in 2020, 89 Norwegian men were charged, indicted or sentenced for having spread abuse images of children in pedophile networks. Over half of these must have lived with children. – Many of these also had children and families. We are a large group that has never received any information, says Liv. She does not know as of today whether her father is in prison or not. – I hope everyone will support the bill, says Liv. Stine Sofie’s Foundation believes that children of inmates should have the right to information about their parents. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news Taking the report back to the Storting The report with the legislative proposals is now on the table of the Storting politicians. – We have a long way to go when it comes to victim protection. For example, as in Liv’s case, which is not a direct victim, says Maria Aasen-Svensrud (Ap). She is first deputy chair of the Justice Committee at the Storting, and was present when Liv told her story in Arendal. It made an impression. – People must experience predictability from the Correctional Service so that they can live safe and good lives, says the parliamentary representative. The Storting representative thanks the Stine Sofie Foundation for the report. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news
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Liv (21) does not want to meet her father
