Mana Men’s Rights Group
19 Greer Crescent, Tawa, Wellington Tel 04 232 3775
E-mail cheriton.br@xtra.co.nz

Media Release

For immediate release

“Naming sex offenders before they have been found guilty has frightening consequences for the innocent accused”, says Bruce Cheriton of Mana Men’s Rights Group.

“False allegations of sexual abuse are very common in custody cases. They are also common outside custody cases in any situation where someone wants to destroy someone else, or the so-called victim is mentally ill, abusing drugs, misguided, or misled and manipulated by psychotherapists and counsellors.

“Or the victim is a child that has been coached by an adult to make a false complaint. Yes, this really happens, but in our experience it is a form of child abuse itself that New Zealanders don’t seem to want to face.

“Therefor government has to be very careful with legislation like the Victim’s Rights Bill, because they will be unwittingly increasing the nightmare for a growing category of new victims – the innocent accused.

“Overseas countries were moving in different directions on these matters”, he says.

“Legislation has been introduced in Canada by Senator Anne Cools to prosecute perpetrators of false allegations, because the problem has become so bad.

“New Zealand is badly in need of this type of legislation, and also of more controls within the system, such as burden of proof for alleged sexual offences and better training for sexual abuse workers so they can tell the difference between true and false allegations, to protect the innocent accused.

For more information telephone Bruce Cheriton on 04 232 3775

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