Kids abused by those they trust
Mar 18, 2007
CHILD sexual abuse perpetrators in the Great Lakes Region are people whom children trust and closely interact with on a daily basis, a report by The World Vision has revealed.
By Raphael Okello
CHILD sexual abuse perpetrators in the Great Lakes Region are people whom children trust and closely interact with on a daily basis, a report by The World Vision has revealed.
The report, titled Their Future in Our Hands, is a result of reaserch conducted among 304 children below 18 years living in Internally Displaced People’s Camps (IDPs) and refugees in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In Uganda, the survey was conducted among 61 children in Coope and Pagak camps, Gulu. 49% of the children said teachers, neighbours and family members had abused them. Only 22% mentioned rebels and military personnel.
The report defines child sexual abuse to include kissing, touching breasts, buttocks and sexual parts, rape or attempted rape, defilement and children forced to watch adults playing sex.
Factors cited for child sexual abuse in Gulu are poverty, overcrowding in camps, lack of law and order, alcohol and drug abuse. But the key factor was insecurity.
“Because we fear that we will be abducted from our homes, we go to spend the night in the bushes. Usually we keep close to older people for protection. They sometimes take advantage of this to have sex with the girls,†a 15-year-old girl explained in the report.
In Uganda, 45% had been forced to have sex either in exchange for basic needs, forced or early marriages while 13% were penetrated by force using a finger or an object. Gihembe (Rwanda) had the highest percentage of children forced to have sex (20%)
Sexual abuse and exploitation of children in Gulu has resulted into ‘child mothers’ — 2% of the children said they conceived.
“They are many (pregnant children),†explained the birth attendant. “From April to this day (May 20), I have nine cases of girls who came to deliver. Three this month and six last month,†she added. Because of their tender age, the girls face difficulties when giving birth. “It is more difficult for them. They have no experience, their pelvic bones are not strong and they bleed a lot because of the cuts and tears.
Some stop breathing during birth. Others fail to push because of too much fear and no energy. This sometimes causes death,†she explained.
Inevitably, abortion is common but she only gets to know about them when the process gets complicated and the parents have to rush the child to her. Other effects were contraction of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (5%), nightmares (14%), physical injuries (7%) but the prevalent effect was embarrassment and shame.
More than half of the children in all the camps, most of whom are girls, had been abused. The highest cases (53 out of 61 children)were recorded in Oicha/Eringeti, DRC. “Girls, like women, are placed in a subordinate position — giving boys and men power and control over them,†the report explains.
It was also discovered that millions of children in these countries are living under gruesome situations, compounded by inadequate medical care, food, shelter, unclean water, among other things, but most of all are sexually abused.
The report made recommendations to governments, NGOs and civil society. The author of the report is convinced that once the recommendations are adhered to and the different stakeholders work closely together, child sexual abuse can be fought.
Some of the recommendations made were for governments to observe and develop child protection laws and submit annual reports on the protection of children.
Educate the children about their rights in community and reporting procedures should be introduced for abused children.
CHILD sexual abuse perpetrators in the Great Lakes Region are people whom children trust and closely interact with on a daily basis, a report by The World Vision has revealed.
The report, titled Their Future in Our Hands, is a result of reaserch conducted among 304 children below 18 years living in Internally Displaced People’s Camps (IDPs) and refugees in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In Uganda, the survey was conducted among 61 children in Coope and Pagak camps, Gulu. 49% of the children said teachers, neighbours and family members had abused them. Only 22% mentioned rebels and military personnel.
The report defines child sexual abuse to include kissing, touching breasts, buttocks and sexual parts, rape or attempted rape, defilement and children forced to watch adults playing sex.
Factors cited for child sexual abuse in Gulu are poverty, overcrowding in camps, lack of law and order, alcohol and drug abuse. But the key factor was insecurity.
“Because we fear that we will be abducted from our homes, we go to spend the night in the bushes. Usually we keep close to older people for protection. They sometimes take advantage of this to have sex with the girls,†a 15-year-old girl explained in the report.
In Uganda, 45% had been forced to have sex either in exchange for basic needs, forced or early marriages while 13% were penetrated by force using a finger or an object. Gihembe (Rwanda) had the highest percentage of children forced to have sex (20%)
Sexual abuse and exploitation of children in Gulu has resulted into ‘child mothers’ — 2% of the children said they conceived.
“They are many (pregnant children),†explained the birth attendant. “From April to this day (May 20), I have nine cases of girls who came to deliver. Three this month and six last month,†she added. Because of their tender age, the girls face difficulties when giving birth. “It is more difficult for them. They have no experience, their pelvic bones are not strong and they bleed a lot because of the cuts and tears.
Some stop breathing during birth. Others fail to push because of too much fear and no energy. This sometimes causes death,†she explained.
Inevitably, abortion is common but she only gets to know about them when the process gets complicated and the parents have to rush the child to her. Other effects were contraction of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (5%), nightmares (14%), physical injuries (7%) but the prevalent effect was embarrassment and shame.
More than half of the children in all the camps, most of whom are girls, had been abused. The highest cases (53 out of 61 children)were recorded in Oicha/Eringeti, DRC. “Girls, like women, are placed in a subordinate position — giving boys and men power and control over them,†the report explains.
It was also discovered that millions of children in these countries are living under gruesome situations, compounded by inadequate medical care, food, shelter, unclean water, among other things, but most of all are sexually abused.
The report made recommendations to governments, NGOs and civil society. The author of the report is convinced that once the recommendations are adhered to and the different stakeholders work closely together, child sexual abuse can be fought.
Some of the recommendations made were for governments to observe and develop child protection laws and submit annual reports on the protection of children.
Educate the children about their rights in community and reporting procedures should be introduced for abused children.