IT WAS really shocking to hear on the news recently that there have been several cases of sexual abuse on children from ages 4 to 10 years old in just February only. The bold way that the perpetrators are committing those offences is unimaginable. These abuses are taking place in broad daylight and children are lured from public places into dangerous areas and at their young age it may be difficult to know who the culprits are. The Police are once again asking the public to help in identifying them or to give any information they may have to help in the investigation.
Many of those abuses could have been prevented with better parental responsibility. According to the Police, the abusers are using parents when they are luring the young girls as is often the case to secluded areas. They are telling those girls that they have something their parents have entrusted in their possession and to come and get them. How would those young children know that this is not true? Many parents teach their child to respect adults and behave in ways that indicate that adults know best. So how would a child know when not to trust one? We are living in a dangerous world especially for children and it is time that parents realize that their child is not a little adult and he or she can be easily influenced.
This is what the abusers depend on since most Seychellois parents are not teaching their child not to talk to strangers as it is almost the norm in foreign countries where kidnapping are rampant. It used to be a tradition when meeting a stranger for a child to greet him or her in the presence of parents although the child may not necessarily know the person. This means that children have been expected to be polite to adults and to respect their decisions. It has not been difficult therefore for some perverted adults to use this strategy to get their victims.
Another issue is the old one about witnesses and proof. It has been very difficult to convict sexual abusers in the past because parents seldom come forward especially when it involves someone close to the family or they are thinking of the shame or embarrassment it will cause if people knew about it. In most cases a medical examination is required and for minors, parental consent is needed but many parents do not want to have their child examined. So in many cases sex offenders go free and the victims have to live with their nightmares for the rest of the lives.
In view of the existing difficulties to catch sex offenders, it is up to parents to raise their children's awareness and warn them of the dangers they may face. Parents need to carefully look at how their child gets home after school and who is supervising them in their absence. It is time to teach children to avoid lonely stretch of roads, walking alone in secluded spots, accepting lifts or gifts from strangers. These are but only some of the things that we can teach our children. Show them how to be responsible for their own safety especially in the absence of parents. And finally the law must come down hard on abusers!