FOR YEARS WE have known about the iniquitous behaviour inflicted on innocent children all across this country by some adults. Often we have ignored it; at other times it has been unbelievably romanticised.
But the report published in the last SATURDAY SUN quoting United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) officials should jolt us into being more proactive with this problem of sexual abuse of our children. It is simply unacceptable.
UNICEF’s data speaks to the problem of men having sex with girls under the age of 16, a long known practice in Barbados, which is sometimes compounded by some of these children also giving birth. There must be no effort to defend it as a historic and cultural norm.
The issue of sexual abuse of our children is often restricted to a narrow script, but the scourge of child abuse and exploitation comes in many forms. It can occur in care facilities, residential settings and obviously, in households. And those who run away, the homeless and those in drug addicted or simply abusive environments are all prone to various forms of abuse and exploitation.
In order to break the silence we need to look at it in its totality. Take the issue of same-sex abuse. This has been occurring for a long time but is often ignored. These matters all require the entire society to be proactive rather than constantly trying to deal with the problem after the fact, spending lots of money and time, primarily in the judicial system, while often ignoring the victims.
The country must put more resources behind prevention programmes targeting those in vulnerable settings. There must also be clear sex abuse prevention practices to be followed at the institutional level. These should include obligatory background checks on adults working with children, an increase in sex education in our schools by whatever name, and letting children know what abuse is and how to seek help if it occurs.
Such methods can provide a moral and legal framework that society can follow. Our basic values must ensure full protection of this country’s innocent children while fully exposing nefarious abusers.
The entire country must be on board with any preventive measures. It cannot be left only to teachers or a visit to the clinic to uncover any wrongdoing. Parents and caregivers need to speak up. In many instances, this may necessitate training these adults in ways to engage in discussion with their children in order to help protect them.
We must appreciate that child sexual abuse is not limited to any particular religion, social or economic class, or ethnic group but can happen in any community.