Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 1206

Tonight's special guest is Sylvia Lee from Sydney, Australia, a survivor of many kinds of abuse who's sharing her story in a book she's written "Totally Crazy." She feels that government in her country, in the United States and world-wide needs to become accountable for the welfare of the abused through the removal and updating of archaic policies and legislation. Sylvia's life story is filled with experiences that make her personally knowledgeable as a survivor / activist. A "stolen child" who was abused daily at home, Sylvia first attempted to run away from home when she was 4 years old. At 15 she was being repeatedly sexually abused yet has no sex education either at home or in school. She struck out on her own, choosing to be permanently homeless, and got busy working to just to pay the rent. At 16 Sylvia found herself working 70-90 hours per week. Eventually she became a single mother. During a nearly two decade long period, she worked in Australia's adult industry, managing 120 full-time staff in a multimillion dollar business, the country's busiest brothel. Sylvia did years of therapy, fighting unsuccessfully to keep her youngest child away from her spouse. Despite the fact that he'd a long criminal history and a history of domestic violence, the Australian legal and justice system failed her. The courts even refused to speak to either of her children. That's why she wrote her book. "I haven't worked long-term due to the devastating impacts and legacy of PTSD and depression my children and I both had forced against us," she writes. But, Sylvia adds, she's "happy and excited to speak [on the show] and seeks to make an impact and dent towards helping to educate and support others."