On sexual abuse of children

Sexual abuse remains the most insidious form of violence against women, not only the most ubiquitous but encompassing other forms of violence in its ambit. Female children are raped and sexually assaulted in this country and nothing seems to change this. This act used to be unusual and bizarre but now, it is fast becoming the trend in this society among some twisted persons with warped and distorted views of reality.

Sexual abuse is so ingrained that it has become a deplorable part of a social garb of Nigeria and for a while now, multiple counts of sexual abuse have been the hall-mark of social existence in Nigeria. Hardly a day passes without sexual abuse being reported against people.

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This level of profligacy and delinquency has become dangerously debilitating whereby the society appear to be breeding sexual perverts and anti-social elements at an intolerable rate and the victims of sexual assault continue to increase.

It is pertinent to affirm here that preponderance of cases of sexual violence against female in this country gives limited access to justice for victims and this has become a cankerworm eating up our nation. This criminalization of sexual misconduct in our country has become imperative as this has been in existence for a very long time with very little done to address it holistically. It is axiomatic that the protracted misery that engenders suffering and hopelessness tends to diminish the line between socially acceptable behaviours and acts that tends towards a distorted view of reality.

These cases are common virtually in our country which the level of it that goes on within our existence is overwhelming and alarming which this menace has gone on so long unchecked and this is negatively impacting the psychological and physical well being of female child.

This act is so damaging and should be unreservedly frowned at by all, because for a few moments of pleasure, the perpetrators cause the child immense trauma for the rest of her life and these implications are inhibitions of female children from attaining their human rights to freedom.

Molestation of female child by an adult is a catty act, deliberate malicious exploitation of the child and it is an atrocious crime against humanity as it seeks to obliterate the future of humanity residing in these children. It is well established fact that patriarchal notions fuel violence against women.

Clearly, it will take some desperate but effective measures to rein in the prevalence of rape and paedophilic offences in this country.

Okanlawon Uthman

Kwara State.