"CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE"


     How elusive  and baffling it would be to believe an adult,of probably sixty years of age sleeping with a five years old girl.It is not an assertion, paedophilia is rampant that it needs not to be on the headline as it is perceive to be a daily occurrence,how detrimental!One will find it more disturbing,more difficult ,irritating to understand  what  kind of sexual pleasure  or passion one finds in a child.Their shadow evokes fear,their presence is terror, pedophiles are daylight devils, perverted men are committing heinous sex crimes in the country.One can even assert that the devil is not as devilish as these blackguards,they are the most dirtiest on earth.Some cases are so atrocious to the extent of ineffableness.
      Nevertheless,children are being sexually abused at home, sometimes even by their own parents, especially the girl child, sometimes at school by their so called teachers and guardians or on the streets,the cancer has made its way into our community.Child sexual abuse is rampant in Africa. In Nigeria ,the United Nations International children Emergency Fund(UNICEF)in 2015 reported that one in four girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18 years,while one in ten boys are  sexually abused before they  attained the age of 18years.The facts as stated above are deplorable,the statistics are shocking and gruesome.The worst places for minors are the war-torn countries.Countries like DR Congo, Liberia and South Sudan.In Liberia,a government survey in 10 countries in 2005-2006 showed that 92 percent of 1,600 women interviewed had experienced sexual abuse.Sexual offences are also widespread in India Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia,Cuba,Mexico,Yemen,Tunisia,Colombia and Mali.
       What the woman has as people say is her dignity,it is this dignity that men have stripped off little girls,many of this abuse are not reported because of stigma and shame.The African society  is known for its dreaded Stigmatization.The case is so deplorable that many children fall victim of sexual abuse by their own fathers or guardians.Any child can be a victim sexual exploitation,but children are believed to be at great risk of being sexually exploited if they;
are homeless
have feelings of low esteem
are in care of someone
The signs of child sexual exploitation may be hard to spot, particularly if a child is being threatened as seen in many cases of child sexual exploitation.To make sure that children are protected,it is worthy being aware of the signs that might suggest a child is being sexually exploited,many children especially those below ten might not know what sexual abuse is or how it is perpetrated,for this parents or guardians should be more argus-eyed of their  wards.Indeed,a recent World Health ‘Organization report states that so prevalent is child sexual abuse that the abuse begins long before the survivor turns five,so despicable.Most of these cases are not reported,many fear the stigma it can strike on family reputation .Mrs Tope Abiara,founder of Love Clinic revealed  that 95% of the cases are kept a secret.
A case reported about one young woman living at the orphanage named Ladi left her home after her father raped her daughter.Her daughter was said tohave been covered inblood,she picked her up and just stood there,he was someone she had always respected,so she did not say anything to him.She picked her up and went to town with her in the morning,Ladi could not return to her village because her father was the chief there.His granddaughter,what a shame!Its a tragedy that children are not safe in the hands  of their family members.
Another recent horrendous case of a girl of 11 years who was forcefully raped by two old men,one of fifty years of age and the other of seventy years age .According to The Tribune Newspaper on Monday,11 November 2019, the men touched and fingered the underaged girl in her  vagina  and eventually raped her.
     The act of unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor as  condemnable and Abominable is best appreciated when one understand who a child is.Generally a child is a person below the age of eighteen years,this is stipulated in many International Instruments(Micheal.A.A).For example,article II of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1989 provides that a child is a person below eighteen.While Specific laws in making certain provisions as the age for which a person can be termed a child.The major laws regulating child The law of various countries should be ready to impose severe penalty for sexual abuse offences if truly it intends to uphold justice.Many cases similar to the case above have experienced such a meagre penalty for such a horrible crime.This contention has been attested to by the comments of people that have experienced sexual abuse and human rights activists.Jail terms as sentence on convicts for the offence of paedophilia are grossly inadequate and make fun of the seriousness of the offence.At times,to convict a criminal especially in such a flagitious crime,it takes about six years or more.The human society crave for severe penalty even up to the maximum of life imprisonment and death sentence .Such will serve as a deterrence The law of various countries should be ready to impose severe penalty for sexual abuse offences if truly it intends to uphold justice.Many cases similar  have experienced such a meagre penalty for such a horrible crime.This contention has been attested to by the comments of people that have experienced sexual abuse and human rights activists .The human society crave for severe penalty even up to the maximum of life imprisonment and death sentence .Such will serve as a deterrence.The satisfying and suitable punishment for this despicable act is death sentence.No sensible person would ever oppose this contention.Recently,due to the intense growth of kidnapping,several state are been craving for laws prescribing death sentence on convicts,but surprisingly one of the heinous crimes in the world today has been treated with frivolous care, ridiculous penalties. The state must take drastic measures  in ensuring that this act is being totally condemned in our society.
Helping children to understand their bodies and sex in a way that is appropriate for their age.Parents should be ready in developing an open and trusting relationship,so they feel they can talk to you about anything.Explaining the difference between safe and secrets and unsafe secrets (things that make them unhappy ,uncomfortable and ill at ease).Parents are main protector of their child,they should take a serious, necessary and proactive approach right from the very beginning of their children’s lives.The society is not that safe for someone else ward.As they say,one is the principal guard of ones assets“.Ensuring privacy in sleeping, dressing and bathing and also teaching them self-respect.Parents or guardians should frequently supervise internet ,mobile and television use.If you suspect a child has been abused,it is advisable not to confront the alleged abuser, confronting them may place the child in greater physical danger and may give the abuser time to threaten them into silence.Instead,seek professional advice.Discuss your concerns with local authority’s children ‘s services (safeguarding team),the police or an independent organization much like an NGO.Today,incestuous cases have been reported,a father fathering the children of his own underaged biological child.The Government must set up organization which shall operate in a secretive manner so as to ensure the safety of the victim.And also,help these innocent being by fighting for them in court and making sure appropriate penalty is imposed on the perpetrators.
If you know for certain that a child has been is being sexually exploited, report this directly to the police.Where the abuse is known ,the family of the abused must face the problem and protect the child at all cost and make sure that the abuser is seriously dealth with according to the law.
Not only the family members have a role or roles to play,the society must take active participation and shun Stigmatization against the poor victim.They should exhibit zero tolerance to rapists by condemning  the perpetrators and they should be severely stigmatized by the society.

By:- ABDULRAHMAN SHEU ZULKIFLI
School :- UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
Faculty :- FACULTY OF LAW
Level:- 200 LEVEL

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