Activists push for child sexual abuse reform in Iowa

(ABC 6 News) – April is child abuse prevention month. On Monday, advocates for sexually abused children came together to ask the Iowa legislature to give survivors more time to file lawsuits against their abusers.

Current Iowa law only allows survivors of childhood abuse to file against their abuser until they turn 19. If their abuser was a counselor or school employee, they have up to five years after leaving that school to file the lawsuit.

Now, advocates for the issue are asking the legislature to change the law. Allowing survivors more time to come forward.

"This is crucial because the average age for someone to come forward when they were sexually abused as a minor is age 52," said Kylie DeWees, an activist, and former victim.

17 states have eliminated their statute of limitations for child sex crimes.