Sexual abuse of children

into four categories:  physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse; and neglect. Child abusers carry out the act on children because they are vulnerable, defenceless, weak and of immature minds.

However, sexual abuse is the involvement of any human being below the age of eighteen years in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and consented to.

Legally, it is referred to as a criminal offence; culturally, it is also a taboo.  It has relationship with situations of failure in providing for a child’s basic, physical, emotional, or educational needs.  It occurs in a child’s home, and communities she interacts with.

Sexual abuse manifests in form of inducement and coercion of a child into any unlawful sexual activity, and practices.  It leads to prostitution, as well as involvement in pornographic performance and materials. Perpetrators could be the direct father, adopted or step children and neighbours of the victim.  Some people indulge in this act, to obtain devilish power, and to satisfy their sexual lusts.

The 1989 Convention on the Rights of Physical Protection, lays emphasise on protection of child’s civil right from physical, mental and emotional abuses. Children are entitled to special treatment, assistance and protection. Sexual abuse occurs among family members, neighbours or outsiders. It is about taking advantage of the weaker person.  Rights of children are many, depending on the prevalent circumstance.  The Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child 1924 recognises child right to protection from “exploitation”.

• How to fire up marital sex (2)

Children have right to safe places to play, live in safe and healthy environments and to construct child rearing behaviour that will enhance their cultural, political and economic developments.

Sexual abuse of children in our society has grown to a very bad dimension to the extent that a very large percentage of fathers impregnate their female children. Likewise, female children of ages two to five years have been victim of this menace. Child abuse is the stepping stone to sexual abuse of children which take place as a result of poverty in the society manifesting through hawking, child labour and child prostitution.

The implications of sexual abuse are inhibitions of children from attaining their human rights to freedom among which are freedom of thoughts, freedom from fear, freedom of choice, and the right to make decisions, and ownership over one’s body.  When this happens to a child it causes guilt, nightmares, lack of self esteem, addiction, depression, inability to trust others, and other mental illnesses. The victims are also at the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, more years of sexual activity, and lack of matrimonial home.

The abusers need to be apprehended to serve as deterrent to others and the act exposed and frowned at to prevent morale decadence in the society.  There is the need to pass or review the existing law relating to sexual abuse.

Awareness of the general public, governments, parents, guidance, educational institutions, civil societies and Non-Governmental Organisations needed to be created against the menace and perpetrators.

Fashona Esther Folake Ph.D,

Ibadan.