1 remember cringing as I listened to stories of a primary school pupil telling her school Mayes how she was being given out to men for sex by her aunty, she was barely 13 years old.
She told them she felt dirty and that her life was already spoilt. It wasn’t a matter of choice. She was trapped in a web her mum was dead,her dad remarried and she was handed over to his sister who took her faraway to Abuja and introduced her to such a horrible nightmare.
Reports say 1 in 3 girls and 2 on 5 boys has been a victim of sexual abuse before age 17.70% of reported sexual assault involves children under the age of 17.
That is theft of their innocence and violation of their rights. The effects are far reaching and often lifelong. Sexually transmitted diseases, physical injury ,post traumatic stress disorder to start with.
Mental health disorders,drug abuse,crime , future abuse , depression and even suicide are other results of child sexual abuse.
The onus lies on parents and guardians to pay attention to what goes on in their children’s lives. Know the people in their children’s lives. Activation of surveillance cameras in homes and schools could also serve as deterrent.
Above all report all cases of abuse to the appropriate authorities. Speak out for the sake of that child. Where family members like parents or siblings are the abusers it is a double offence because it involves incest, according to a lawyer,Barrister Ogechi Abu, report them and get justice for that child.There are special courts called family courts in Nigeria where these cases are prioritized.
The only way to end this menace is enforcement which will not happen if you aid and abate by staying silent.
It is your duty to ensure the abuser keeps their hands away from that child.
Global day to end child sexual abuse was instituted in 2013.
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