CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: ANOTHER REASON WHY IT CONTINUES IN AFRICA

Child sexual abuse, also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. It a form of sexual abuse in which a child is abused for sexual gratification for an adult or and an older adolescent. The act could constitute a direct sexual contact, the older person engaging indecent exposure for instance exposure of the genital, female nipple or buttocks, to a child, with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or even pressurizing a child to engage in child activities and displaying pornography to a child. Child sexual abuse usually occurs in diverse settings, cutting across home, school or work (in cases of child labor).

In Africa, child marriage is one of the main forms of child sexual abuse. United Nations International Education Fund (UNICEF) has highlighted that child marriage represents perhaps the most prevalent form of sexual abuse and exploitation of girls. The global prevalence of girl child sexual abuse has been estimated at 19.7%. The intriguing part of this is most sexual offenders are familiar with their victims who are these little girls. Approximately 30% are relatives of these children and about 60% are friends of the family and neighbors, with the other 10% constituting of strangers. Globally, only about 18-19% of women disclose being sexually abuse when they were children.

This disgusting act does not go without severe consequences on these young children. The    aftermath is in the negative and drastically affects and distorts the lives of these girls:

-Effect on psychological and physical wellbeing

-Fear and Distrust of others

-Anxiety and nervousness and even thoughts of running away from home

-Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

-Withdrawal, isolation and consequent grief

-Social adjustment problems and low self esteem

-Depression

-Severe medical complications and even infection, and the list continue.

In Africa, these consequences are known back to back but the bad news is this violation is not reported giving precedent to a continuation. Children and women are constantly abuse and are left to suffer with the traumatizing horror for the rest of their lives while battling with severe infections like HIV/AIDS with no cure. Often than not, the perpetrator go scot free because it is an offender from the family. When the survivor is not blamed, the perpetrator is the victim and his deed, are covered because in Africa, it is “dragging the family name to the mud’’.

The excuse of tarnishing the image of the family is placed in higher priority than the dignity and health status of these young girls who are continuously violated. Child sexual abuse in the family is another reason why it continues in Africa resulting from the fact that the African families cover it up behind the blinds of “family name and image”. Instances of step fathers raping their step daughters is protected even by the mother herself (so pathetic) with the defense that the society will shame her husband, but what about the humanity of these girls. While uncles continue to violate and perpetrate sexual assault on these children, the families only chair a meeting and resolve the act being kept under sealed lips, to the hearing of none so that the family is forever seen responsible and thus exonerated from abominable acts. Child sexual abuse should not continue because it is a human right violation and a barrier to civic, socio-political and economic participation. African families should understand thoroughly the concept of this dehumanizing act and its impact wherein, everybody is aware of the consequences of the survivors and the punishment of the perpetrators.

The environment should be enabling for survivors to tell their stories and get a holistic support system and African families ready to shun child sexual abuse.

Welisane Maagbor