Dear Editor,
Your excellent editorial of July 21 was yet another important and urgent reminder of the horrific prevalence of child abuse both locally and worldwide. Education and wealth notwithstanding, children remain vulnerable targets for predators everywhere. While most of your leader was quite on point, I found the following language to be objectionable:
“When violated children grow up to be violators, it simply continues the spinning and widening of the cycle of violent behaviours. When they don’t, there is every likelihood of them being burdens to society because of latent mental issues that may manifest when they become adults.”
The after-effects of having experienced a devastating childhood should not be described as being a “burden”. Given the high prevalence of suicide and other debilitating mental health illnesses, this type of language is precisely why many victims do not come forward to reveal what has happened to them, as they definitely do not wish to be burdens to their families or society. The actual ‘burden’ lies with the society/state to create a zero tolerance environment for the abuse of children. When the protective and legal framework of the state fails its youngest citizens, it is then absolutely obligated to provide support services to victims, in addition to ensuring that the threat posed by paedophiles is properly addressed.
Too often we are in a rush to blame the victims of violent sex-based crime, while the perpetrators are free to continue their lives undisturbed. In discouraging victims to address the issues that arise years later, the state/society is simply providing more protection to criminals, who are free to continue their behaviour unchecked for years.
Furthermore, the health needs of any citizen should never be described as burdensome, especially if they are the result of a crime committed on an entirely blameless minor.
Yours faithfully,
Scheherazade Ishoof Khan