Dear Editor,
It has recently been brought to my attention how little most of us know or even care about child abuse in Jamaica. Child abuse is an issue which is increasing at an alarming rate, and this is happening because we as a people have either lost our voice or we choose not to use our voice.
Our children are being physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually abused on a daily basis and they are too afraid to speak up about it. This is mainly because they realise that the adults around them are not doing anything to prevent it.
Child abuse is a problem that affects everyone, and so everyone needs to take a stand against it. We see a lot of these stories on TV, hear them on the radio, or read about them in the paper, and we express a moment of disgust; but how many of us give it a second thought? Do we wonder what happened to that child and how often these abusers are punished?
Who really is to be blamed for when a child is abused? Do we blame the child or the abuser? What about the parents or guardians of that child, are they to be blamed as well? Why do we ignore these things when they happen? We need to speak up against child abuse! We are all to be blamed because we know about it yet we keep quiet. It is not our child or a member of our family, so why should we bother to report it?
This happens in many communities. There are men who continuously, for years, molest young girls and even have children with them, but no one says anything. We all forget our voices or we refuse to speak. When this happens, the man feels protected and so he does it again and again and again, and only when he does it to someone we care about do we finally decide to get angry about it.
Well, I say we are all to be blamed for child abuse. If you remain quiet when it happens, it is your fault. Do not let any more of our children suffer because of our silence. Speak out against child abuse!
Kenisha Williams
kenishawilliams499@gmail.com
Speak out against child abuse
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It has recently been brought to my attention how little most of us know or even care about child abuse in Jamaica. Child abuse is an issue which is increasing at an alarming rate, and this is happening because we as a people have either lost our voice or we choose not to use our voice.
Our children are being physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually abused on a daily basis and they are too afraid to speak up about it. This is mainly because they realise that the adults around them are not doing anything to prevent it.
Child abuse is a problem that affects everyone, and so everyone needs to take a stand against it. We see a lot of these stories on TV, hear them on the radio, or read about them in the paper, and we express a moment of disgust; but how many of us give it a second thought? Do we wonder what happened to that child and how often these abusers are punished?
Who really is to be blamed for when a child is abused? Do we blame the child or the abuser? What about the parents or guardians of that child, are they to be blamed as well? Why do we ignore these things when they happen? We need to speak up against child abuse! We are all to be blamed because we know about it yet we keep quiet. It is not our child or a member of our family, so why should we bother to report it?
This happens in many communities. There are men who continuously, for years, molest young girls and even have children with them, but no one says anything. We all forget our voices or we refuse to speak. When this happens, the man feels protected and so he does it again and again and again, and only when he does it to someone we care about do we finally decide to get angry about it.
Well, I say we are all to be blamed for child abuse. If you remain quiet when it happens, it is your fault. Do not let any more of our children suffer because of our silence. Speak out against child abuse!
Kenisha Williams
kenishawilliams499@gmail.com
Speak out against child abuse
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