Having had a comfortable middle-class upbringing, Allan was appalled at Amanda s story when she first related it to him in August 1999. Determined to understand the issues on a deeper level, Allan commenced researching child sexual abuse and the more he learned, the more his admiration for Amanda s achievements grew. His involvement in researching the issue and in speaking to people about the issue, confirmed Amanda s belief that the general public did not understand child sexual abuse, and was unwilling to confront it. Amanda s determination to do something to make a difference, and to validate her own experiences, fired Allan with enthusiasm. The Next Step initiative was born.
Children are far more important than the rights of sex offenders.
The Next Step has launched its campaign to establish a National Sex Offenders Register, and author a book that will effectively be a layman's guide to the issues surrounding, and the prevention of child sexual abuse. The purpose of the book and other multi-media presentations will be to educate the public in general, and men in particular, about the topic of child sexual abuse, with emphasis on the collateral damage caused by an abusive situation or relationship. Public perception is that child sexual abuse is an isolated phenomenon. Most people have no comprehension of the scope of damage caused to the victim, and consequently to society as a whole. The victim s suffering does not end with the actual abuse, it continues throughout the life of the child as an adult.