Protect children from sexual abuse

It is also worrying that more than half of all the perpetrators are either close relatives or neighbours.

A society’s worth is measured not by the level of economic growth or the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but how well it treats the most vulnerable.

Using this yardstick, there’s something gravely wrong when the very people supposed to safeguard and nurture children turn them into sex objects, preying on their vulnerability.

That some parents and guardians have turned against children, boys and girls and stolen their innocence by sexually violating them is despicable.

According to a report carried elsewhere in this newspaper, statistics from the recovery centre at the Coast General Hospital show that 75 per cent of the over 7,000 sexual violence survivors are children aged below 12.

It is also worrying that more than half of all the perpetrators are either close relatives or neighbours.

This explains the complexities of tackling this crime because in most cases, the victims are prevailed upon not to press charges and those who persist are ostracized.

Counsellors are concerned that few cases end up in court and even then they drag for a long time, further traumatising the victims.

Rarely do survivors, who have to live with physical and psychological wounds, are afforded justice.

There is need to strictly enforce the law to protect vulnerable children and punish all paedophiles ruthlessly.

We also need centres of refuge where the victims can run to after being rescued.

During these holidays, it is incumbent on all parents to guard their children from perverts by staying close to them instead of dispatching them to distant relatives.

Let’s keep an eye on children for we owe it them a safe environment free of sexual violence.