Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) marked the celebration of the 22nd Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week last week with the theme: “We are the Solution.”
Based on the study conducted by the Council for the Welfare of Children from 2012 to 2016, one out of five children has experienced some form of sexual violence in their childhood.
The study added that males were mostly involved in sexual violence at home and in school of which 19.5 percent were males and 14.5 percent were females.
Maricel Madamba of the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children in Central Visayas (RCWC-7), revealed that in 2017, their office had received around 87 cases of child sexual abuse at home perpetrated mostly by their brothers or cousins.
Madamba said though that the data does not include cases reported to the different Local Government Units (LGUs) and other agencies.
She said that among the male victims, frequently cited perpetrators were cousins, fathers and brothers, while neighbors were identified as the common perpetrators in the community.
She added that sexual violence against children mostly happens at home and during dating.
She added that the lack of supervision, single headed households, and absent parents also increase the risk for sexual violence against children at home.
Two in five children have experienced cyber violence, either through the Internet or cellphone.
Risky online behavior and lack of supervision when using the Internet exposes children to online sexual solicitation and grooming.
“So we are encouraging each and everyone to protect our children so that they will not be a victim of sexual abuse,” Madamba said.
Currently, the DSWD-7 has two facilities intended for children who are sexually abused.
Meanwhile, Jonah Nuñez of Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors (FORGE), Inc., also said that sexual abuse on children may result to depression and rebellious behavior.
FORGE Inc. is a non-government organization, which was established in 1987.
“Because they would think that their reputation and dignity are already tainted, and that their life is no longer worth living for,” Nuñez said.
She added that sexual abuse to children may also result to drug addiction and prostitution.
She revealed that 80 percent of women had engaged in prostitution after falling victims to sexual abuses in their childhood.
Nuñez said that every now and then, their group is roaming around in Metro Cebu at night to rescue minors engaged in prostitution and to convince them to attend their sessions and street education through their outreach program.
The group also wants to cut the stigma among Filipino families, who choose to hide incidents on sexual abuse in order to avoid embarrassment.
FORGE Inc. has activity centers located in Barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City and in Lapu-lapu City. The group also assists minors who are victims of sexual abuses, in pursuing legal actions against their perpetrators.
In relation to the 22nd Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week, the RCWC-7 is urging its member agencies to install tarpaulins outside their office and to strengthen their advocacy through social media.
Aside from this, social workers will also undergo seminar and trainings on handling sexually abused children, especially social workers in day care centers. /Correspondent
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