Child Sexual Abuse: A Clog In The Wheels Of Social Development

The topic Sexual Abuse is a very sensitive and difficult one because it affects both boys, girls, women and even men; although LGBT persons alongside with children and women have the highest percentage of people that are sexually abused in today's world. Sexual Abuse is evil and unjustifiable.

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Child Sexual Abuse is a statutory offense that involves causing a child to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or with threat. It could take the form of pressuring a child to take part in sexual activities,  such as: indecent exposure of genitals to a child with the sole aim of gratifying your personal sexual desires. In most cases, the children who undergo this traumatic situation of abuse experience it from people they trust and are familiar, like family members, babysitters, neighbors, teachers, family friends or even religious mentors.

Child Sexual Abuse has been in the forefront newspaper, magazines and non-print media headlines as one of the most unwholesome acts perpetrated around the world; it has left stinky footprints in the consciousness of well meaning people. It is much worse to talk about it when children are the victims.

In Nigeria, Child Sexual Abuse is the most rampant act of violence that is  claiming the happiness of innocent children. For instance, not too long ago, it was reported that in Rivers State, Nigeria, a father was arrested for abusing his children. According to the report, it was stated that he has been doing this for over 10 years.
A situation whereby a father who is supposed to protect his children from sexual predators is now the predator who has left everlasting scars in the heart of his children.

Child Sexual Abuse is the worst form of Abuse because the child involved is in all cases powerless and unable to resist or fight his/her abuser. The abuser may even threaten, or entice the child with gifts or money and could start in subtle means like bathing the child and/or caressing and massaging the genitals of the child to stimulate unwarranted and unsolicited sexual appetite in the child and thereby encouraging the child to do same on his/her own.

Sexual abuse especially at a young age can lead to several undesirable personality traits in an individual such as low self esteem, aggression, mental/psychological disorders that could lead to PTSD, and other psychopathic and sociopathic behaviours; thereby leading to increasing social problems. 

It cannot be overemphasized that Child Sexual Abuse is a vice. Whether ignorantly done or not, there is at least two cases of Child Sexual Abuse going on in your neighborhood right now.

Sexual Abuse amongst children has drawn widespread condemnation from well meaning Nigerians and has been the focus of many professional and legislative initiatives.

Most NGOs today focus more on Sexual Abuse and how to curb reoccurring episodes on victims. But the question  still remains:

“how do we prevent Sexual Abuse in a society as large as Nigeria?”

Collective action is needed for this cause. Social institutions - both religious and educational, have a major role to play in curbing the excesses and incidents of Child Sexual Abuse. Strict disciplinary measures within these aforementioned institutions should be carried out and then the offenders should be handed over to the authorities.

On a more larger scale, harsh sentences for child abusers should be strongly advocated for and effected irrespective of the class, status and position of the offender.

It is unfortunate that, 100% eradication of child abuse cannot be achieved as most times, the abuser is a trusted family member, parent or mentor and in other cases, these abuses drag on for years. Parents should pay more attention to the behavioral changes of their children/wards so as to be able to detect when the child is passing through difficult times. 

Many literature materials have been published about child molestation and Sexual Abuse, and the increased media coverage of such scenes have also given credence to the fact that Child Sexual Abuse is still prevalent in today's stratosphere... More publications, advertisements, seminars and plenary sessions should be done too often, so as to not only educate young children on how they can escape and report any form of abuse, but to also help them build confidence in speaking out.

It is imperative to note that sexual predators are in every corners of the world. Sexual Abuse is a cancer that is yet benign, if not treated, overtime it may become malignant and destroy our shared values in the society. 

Everyone should answer the clarion call of fighting against Child Sexual Abuse with enthusiasm and vigor, the way we fight for our lives. By so doing, our society will be rid of these devilish sexual predators invading our world and eroding our shared values.

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