CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN OUR SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION

Child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent.

Child sexual abuse is evidenced by this activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person. This may include but is not limited to:

1. The inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity.
2. Sex of any kind with a minor, including vaginal, oral, or anal
3. Producing, owning, or sharing pornographic images or movies of children
4. Sex trafficking.
5. Any other sexual conduct that is harmful to a child’s mental, emotional, or physical welfare.

The majority of perpetrators are someone the child or family knows. they are either uncles, area brother, family friends or even father.

As many as 93 percent of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser.

It is no longer advisable to keep one’s child with anyhow person.

Don’t entrust your child with anybody even your own blood brother.

Be your children’s best friend.

RISK FACTORS FOR VICTIMIZATION

A number of factors that make individual children vulnerable to sexual abuse have been identified; although based largely on experience in Nigeria today the key determinants are believed to

— female sex (though in some developing countries male children constitute a large proportion of child victims);

— unaccompanied children;

— children in foster care, adopted children, stepchildren;

— physically or mentally handicapped children;

— history of past abuse;

— poverty;

— war/armed conflict;

— psychological or cognitive vulnerability;

— single parent homes/broken homes;

— social isolation (e.g. lacking an emotional support network);

— parent(s) with mental illness, or alcohol or drug dependency.

HOW TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AS PARENT

Child sexual abuse has become rampant in our society today, no one will help us, all we need to do is to take Responsibility as PARENT. Let protect our children. Don’t let us bring up the lackadaisical attitude while raising our children;

1. Introduce Sex Education to them at tender age.
2. Develop your children spirituality. (Purity)

3. Don’t entrust your female child with anybody even your own blood brother without frequent check-up.
4. Let be a good time manager as our children future is more important.
5. Let be our children’s best friend.
6. Enroll your children to self-defense academy.
7. Don’t be too harsh on them.
8. As parent, be your child confidant.
9. Create room for discussion with your children.
10. Be their role model.
11. Avoid dressing in their presence.

Written by: Mrs. Dosunmu Kudirat O.