We Are Jeni

This story explores childhood sexual abuse – a difficult topic to tackle, but one far too commonplace. Victim/survivors are understandably reluctant to tell their stories. Audiences can find the subject too confronting to watch. However, in Dr Jeni Haynes, we have found a survivor enthusiastic to tell her story to “protect the unknown child”, and speak up on behalf of all survivors.
The film will shine a light on dissociative identity disorder (DID, prev. multiple personality disorder). Little understood and often regarded as “the craziest of the crazy” mental health disorders, DID is in fact a genius coping mechanism when a young child faces extreme trauma. Jeni credits her DID with saving her life, and this film will challenge and transform an audience’s understanding of the condition.
It is a narrative that is uplifting and celebrates her courage. While not a feel-good film by any measure ‘We Are Jeni’ is ultimately a story of triumph against extreme odds.

Dr Jeni Haynes’ long road to justice is the core to the film. Her treatment during her 40 year fight by institutions, police, lawyers and medical staff was shocking and unjust. Rarely believed, helped or supported, it is a miracle that she survived her ordeal. It was not until she was eventually believed by a handful of individualsthat she was eventually able to bring her perpetrator father to justice.
Jenny is determined that the millions of other child abuse victims, and in particular the many who will go on to experience Dissociative Identity Disorder, will not be subject to the same pain and re-victimisation

The film will be a clarion call to governments and institutions to continue raise awareness and influence policy. Whilst we may never be able to guarantee justice for victim survivors our message is to let all those who suffer understand that there is NO statute of limitations on healing.

Jeni spent a lifetime being dismissed and disbelieved, even by her own family. Convinced her father could read her mind, Jeni didn’t dare speak a word of the abuse. She learnt at a young age to hide her DID for fear of being deemed crazy. She even removed every reference to it from her police statement. Yet the detective who headed up the investigation, and eventually the DPP, recognised her condition was valuable evidence for the prosecution. DID, which was a result of extreme abuse at the hands of her father proved instrumental in bringing him to justice. NSW police are now using learnings from Jeni’s case –her DID; how to question a traumatised witness; how to successfully bring historic child abuse cases to court – as part of their training. Jeni herself wants to be a vocal advocate on such issues, and let other victims know that there is always hope. We have a vast network to draw on to roll out these messages.

We have developed strong relationships with child protection organisations as a result of our previous project, ‘The Children In The Pictures’, which dealt with the police who investigate dark web child abuse networks. It had a broad theatrical release and has been screened three times at the UN, had parliamentary screenings in Australia and the UK, a US Congressional screening at the National Press Club and has been screened to more than 150 law enforcement and NGOs around the world as an awareness tool. The impact campaign, the largest ever out of Australia, received more than $1 million in funding from Westpac. The associated podcast has charted in more than 50 countries and had several million downloads and multiple awards. The missing voice however was that of the victim/survivor. Our impact partners all strongly welcome the opportunity to share Jeni’s voice as a victim survivor and we can expect considerable support across NGOs, institutions, law enforcement and government.

The film will change audience perceptions of dissociative identity disorder, calling for it to be regarded with greater understanding and empathy. A clear message will be to appreciate that child sexual abuse is far more prevalent in society that is generally acknowledged. In Australia we will advocate for the establishment of a National Victim Commissioner, (a position now established at a state level in Queensland, Western Australia. South Australia and the ACT) and a national charter of victim’s rights to defend and protect individuals within the criminal justice system. This will entail public meetings, establishing a coalition of interested groups and pressure on the political system