Sharon Martin, NIROMP chair said:
This tremendously powerful article written by Rebekah Pierre calls to the gut of how #socialjustice is enacted in practice. A most important read ‘Revisiting diary entries from care: an exposition of the challenges of unregulated placement settings’ (open, free, access until February 2022), I’m in awe of Rebekah and other people like her – who’ve selflessly shared their story in an effort to help much needed change.
Hear this from Rebekah:
“On one occasion, about 50 yards away from the placement, I was sexually assaulted by a group of adult men, who photographed the incident. This happened on a summer day in a tourist hot-spot, and no one intervened. The psychological impact of this was significant and contributed to my lack of self-esteem and desire to self-harm. Whilst sexism and negative gendered experiences are ubiquitous, the location of the hostel in the centre of the sex-tourism hotspot of the town likely increased both their frequency and intensity. Had the state placed me in a more nurturing setting such as a foster home in a less deprived location, I might have been shielded from these experiences.”
Courage against all odds. Please read, reflect and act.
#ThankYou Rebeka Pierre for sharing.
Sharon Martin, chair NIROMP
Journal article by Rebekah Pierre, Revisiting diary entries from care: an exposition of the challenges of unregulated placement settings
niromp.org 