Extending Time Limits in Sexual Abuse Cases: A Critical Comparative Evaluation

Existing statutes of limitation impose limits on the ability of survivors of alleged sexual abuse to make claims. While there is a defensible rationale for such statutes, they pose particular issues in this context. Many survivors of abuse struggle to come to terms with what happened to them, and may take a long time (if ever) to bring allegations to authorities. In this light, the courts could be more sympathetic to the situation of such survivors, and the good reasons why they may have delayed bringing allegations forward.