Dear Editor,
There has been a notable increase in reports of child sexual abuse over the past five years. In 2013 there were 670 reported cases (80 boys and 590 girls). In 2017 there was 841 reported cases (119 boys and 722 girls), which indicates that there has been a 25% increase or an additional 171 children compared to 5 years ago disclosed the abuse that has been taking place against them. Although the increase must be a cause for public concerns, it must also be seen that children, their families, communities, the CPA, Police, the judiciary and civil society are listening to children’s cries and are responding and helping children and their families to report child sexual abuse. The increase in the numbers of reported cases of child sexual abuse must be seen as children being empowered to tell of abuse. It must however, be noted that despite the increase, child sexual abuse cases remain under-reported for many reasons inclusive of fear of the offender, fear of shame and manipulation of the family to blame the child or not believing the child. In an article published on March 3rd, 2018, in the Kaieteur News, Mrs. Ann Greene, the Director of the CPA stated that “The figures recorded for last year are high. They do not present the true picture of child abuse in Guyana, since it is often a hidden crime. For this reason many cases go unreported”.
ChildLinK’s report “Cries in The Dark” – Child Sexual Abuse in Guyana Today, indicated that many children did not identify the abuse they endured as sexual abuse. Many adults and children are unable to identify sexual abuse especially if it does not involve penetration. While penetration is a more invasive form of sexual abuse it is important that persons understand that there are additional acts that often form part of the abuse and grooming process. For example, the report stated that some offenders made the children feel like they were in a romantic relationship. When those offenders initially approached children, they often presented the sexual activities as games, simple affection, hygiene routines, or ways to have fun. Over time, the sexual abuse becomes increasingly intrusive. Some victims reported manipulation by offenders that made them feel “special,” and like they were his/her “girlfriend or boyfriend” even when there was a difference in age of ten or more years. Some children reported that they did feel like the abuser’s girlfriend, because they had become intimate, or had developed feelings for the person, or because she had believed they (the offender) loved her (the victim), or because the offender was nicer to the victim than most other people.
Abusers also used fear to intimidate and manipulate children into subjection. In a report received at the Child Advocacy Centre (CAC), the grandmother and aunt of a teenaged victim were aware of the abuse. The perpetrator was the victim’s aunt’s husband. The women protected the offender while the victim lived in fear because the grandmother and aunt threatened to poison her if she disclosed the abuse to anyone. Offenders also told victims that they would get into trouble or get a beating and their parents would be angry if they disclosed. Children who are afraid of a beating are less likely to tell their parents or any adult about abuse because they are afraid they will be further punished. Children who feel loved, appreciated, and well cared-for at home are less likely to succumb to an offender’s manipulation and intimidation. In some instances, perpetrators used threats of violence to subject the child to prolonged sexual abuse. Perpetrators used threats of physical violence and financial abuse to deprive the victim if the victim is in their care and also may threaten to harm a family member or someone that the victim cares for. For example, a victim reported that her step-father who physically abused her mother, threatened that if she does not have sex with him he will continue to beat the mother. The report found that many offenders threatened the children implicitly by demonstrating their power in a variety of ways. Some children reported that the abusers also issued specific threats to make them comply with the abuse and keep it a secret.
Perpetrators of child sexual abuse (CSA) gain the trust of potential child victims and their caregivers by methodically “grooming” them. This process begins with identifying potential victims and their trust, and breaking down their defences. After gaining access to children by receiving their trust, the offender initiates some kind of contact that s/he finds sexually gratifying. Shame is another reason children may not disclose sexual abuse. Like any victim who experienced sexual abuse, it is a violation of their body and private space. Many victims reported low self-esteem, lack of self-worth, humiliation and distress as a result of the abuse they were subjected to. Children may even experience shame and become confused due to being aroused during the sexual act and may believe that because their body responded to the stimuli in a natural way that they liked or consented to the act. In cases that involved incest (abuse by a family member), the child may believe that it is their fault, or they must have done something to arouse the family member which resulted in the sexual abuse. Many victims of child sexual abuse reported that they felt dirty and unworthy because their body and personal space were violated.
Child sexual abuse will continue in an environment where children are manipulated through threats, groomed and made to feel the abuse is their fault and ashamed to tell where there was a trusting relationship. Other reasons include children are initially treated better by the potential offender than their family members. It is important that as an adult we are aware of how to respond to disclosure of child sexual abuse. Parents, caregivers, family and community members/leaders should always keep an eye out for children. Where there is a suspicion ask questions carefully and not to scare the child into telling, they most likely may not, and educate the child about sexual abuse and sexual violence. Should a child disclose we must listen to the child, get medical care immediately especially if the abuse has taken place within the last few hours, make a report to the police and CPA. Child sexual abuse is a crime and it’s against the law the keep it a secret. You are supporting the offender when you keep it a secret.
We must acknowledge the fact that as parents and society at large, the kind of relationships that we develop with our children plays a crucial role in protecting them from child sexual abuse and all other forms of abuse. Parents must seek to have an open line of communication so that their children can disclose abuse or express their feelings without victimization. This will give offenders less power to manipulate their children and will aid in preventing child sexual abuse and directly encourage reporting and disclosure of child sexual abuse.
Yours faithfully,
Shaquita Thomas
Communications Officer
ChildLinK Inc.
