from: Margaret Bedus, via email
Despite child sexual abuse regularly hitting the headlines, child sexual abuse is given low priority; consequently, awareness is lacking.
What is needed is for every school in the state is to run classes for children on what touches are inappropriate and where to go for help.
This has been raised time and time again but people shy away from it. The result is children do not know what to do and so the sexual abuse continues.
Attitudes need to change. Parents, teachers and youth workers need to talk to children about these issues; be alert to the changes in children’s behaviour and take seriously any comments from children about inappropriate behaviour. The priority must be to help the child and not to protect the accused or the image of the agency.
Abusers may be among those applying for work or as volunteers. Standard child protection policies must be in place. Those in charge must not assume they can spot an abuser by appearance or attitude. Richard Huckle presented himself as a helpful person wanting to assist poor children in their Sunday school – he groomed both the adults and children to trust him.
SWWS in its recently launched manifesto Women Calling for Change, made the following recommendations:
Run programmes on child safety and reproductive health in schools and the community so school drop-outs are reached.
Increase awareness of abuse of children through the internet and have easy online reporting mechanisms for children.
Move from the current “Touch and Go” situation to more systematic, long-term support for survivors of abuse.
Increase the capacity and skill of key agencies – this requires more resources and more training.
Child protection officers employed by the Department of Welfare to be professionally qualified social workers as envisioned in the Child Act currently being amended and the proposed Social Work Act.
Extend the work of the inter-agency teams dealing with abuse (SCAN) so they cover more of the state and also provide an effective review system.
Amend the definition of rape in the Penal Code to include “finger rape”.
SWWS strongly believes these measures will strengthen Sarawak’s ability to respond to the serious problem of child sexual abuse – as long as they are given priority and speedily implemented.
We need to move quickly. It is over a year ago since SWWS raised the issue of the finger rape but there is still no date for the necessary amendments. The key is to give this issue priority. We know what needs to be done. If we don’t do it then we are making it easier for the abusers.
Margaret Bedus is president of Sarawak Women for Women Society
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