By: Shahid Javed
Child sexual abuse cases in Pakistan have been increased from nine cases per day to 12 cases per day within a year.
This number is generated & compiled by “SAHIL” an NGO which is working on protection children against violence.
Official states published annually show the amount of child sexual abuse recorded by authorities in a year, this problem is much bigger than shown in official statistics, as most crimes are not disclosed or not reported.
Most sexual abuse cases aren’t reported detected or prosecuted. Most children do not tell anyone that they are being sexually abused. It’s a crime that is usually only witnessed by abuser and victim.
There are many questions in my mind & almost in every countryman’s mind.
Where our society is going? What steps need to be taken against such violence? Does literacy rate of the country is directly proportional to this evil? Why the government is failed to come-up with an effective mechanism to protect children from becoming victim of sexual abuse?
How many Zianab’s and children like her becoming victims every year? It’s not only government s responsibility as a society we also needs to educate our children and adults.
Child sexual abuse is preventable if parents should take following steps.
- Parents can make sure that children are safe as possible, wherever they spend their time.
- Parents can make sure children are kept safe by checking on areas that frequently used, such as corridors or outdoor spaces.
- Parents must ensure and allow suitable people to work with children.
- Schools, coaching centers & madrasas should be followed.
- Should train our children, so they know the signs of sexual abuse.
- Children need to know what sexual abuse is and it’s never their fault.
This is also observed that offenders are most likely to be relatives or acquaintances of their victim than strangers and more offenders are male than female.
No one has the right to snatch the innocence from the child, why people do that?
Are they mentally sick? Is away from the religion is one of the cause? Does media and social media is playing a negative role? Parents should watch what their child is doing on internet, government authorities should bane all kind of sexual materials from internet by applying firewalls and should make a check on it.
An adult who engages in sexual activity with child is performing a criminal & immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior and on other side victimized child may suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorder, self-esteem, sleep disturbance. A study says that United states & Europe is also not safe from this evil, juvenile sex abuse frequently occurs in western society as well, So it’s a global issue, UNICEF should arranges the seminars and awareness sessions all over the world to overcome this.
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