Dear Editor,
We must fast-track child abuse cases through the courts. The real problem, however, is our attitude towards child abuse. We have so much love for a foetus and then we effectively "abort" our children by not providing them the protection they deserve. Our children are routinely exposed to physical, sexual and psychological violence in homes, schools and communities. We have betrayed the trust of our children as incest is a harsh reality in many of our poor, uneducated and unemployed rural communities.
The true magnitude of sexual violence is hidden because of its sensitive and illegal nature. However, close to 30 children have been reportedly murdered so far this year, including girls who appeared to have been sexually assaulted or otherwise abused. Many children and families do not report cases of abuse and exploitation because of stigma, fear, and lack of trust in the system. Our social tolerance and lack of awareness also contribute to under-reporting. This needs to change if we do not want to "abort" more of our children.
I thank our prime minister for promising "harsher penalties for persons who murder, rape, or commit other serious violent offences against children". Meanwhile, I propose a public education campaign to change our attitudes towards child abuse. We need to prevent and respond to sexual violence by engaging different government sectors -- social welfare, education and health -- as well as legislators, civil society, community leaders, religious groups, the private sector, media, families and children themselves. We must focus on the real problem and work with communities and the general public to raise awareness about child abuse and address our attitudes, norms and practices.
Martin Luther King Jr said: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Let us break our silence on child abusers.
Tashfeen Ahmad
mrtashfeen@hotmail.com
Focus on attitude to child abuse
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We must fast-track child abuse cases through the courts. The real problem, however, is our attitude towards child abuse. We have so much love for a foetus and then we effectively "abort" our children by not providing them the protection they deserve. Our children are routinely exposed to physical, sexual and psychological violence in homes, schools and communities. We have betrayed the trust of our children as incest is a harsh reality in many of our poor, uneducated and unemployed rural communities.
The true magnitude of sexual violence is hidden because of its sensitive and illegal nature. However, close to 30 children have been reportedly murdered so far this year, including girls who appeared to have been sexually assaulted or otherwise abused. Many children and families do not report cases of abuse and exploitation because of stigma, fear, and lack of trust in the system. Our social tolerance and lack of awareness also contribute to under-reporting. This needs to change if we do not want to "abort" more of our children.
I thank our prime minister for promising "harsher penalties for persons who murder, rape, or commit other serious violent offences against children". Meanwhile, I propose a public education campaign to change our attitudes towards child abuse. We need to prevent and respond to sexual violence by engaging different government sectors -- social welfare, education and health -- as well as legislators, civil society, community leaders, religious groups, the private sector, media, families and children themselves. We must focus on the real problem and work with communities and the general public to raise awareness about child abuse and address our attitudes, norms and practices.
Martin Luther King Jr said: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Let us break our silence on child abusers.
Tashfeen Ahmad
mrtashfeen@hotmail.com
Focus on attitude to child abuse
-->