Sexual abuse, assault and harassment have become common experiences in the world today. Sexual abuse refers to all kinds of non-consensual activities that relate to sex. They are serious crimes that are committed especially against women and girls. They are punishable by law according to the legal provisions of different countries and Nigeria is not an exception. Sexual abuse can be more appropriately described under the umbrella term, sexual violence, due to the types of actions involved which frequently include use of force, brutality, harshness and unacceptable or disturbing images of violence.
Sexual violence, therefore, can be used as a collective term for all forms of non-consensual sexual activities, including rape. Sexual abuse involves someone in a position of power or authority who often takes advantage of the trust and power bestowed on him or her by the subordinate person and involves him or her in sexual activity. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser, molester or assaulter.
Child sexual abuse is described as “contacts between a child and an adult or another person significantly older where the child is being used for sexual stimulation of the adult or other persons” (American Psychologist, 2008). Other forms of sexual abuse include pressurizing a child to engage in sexual activities like indecent exposure of the genitals of a child, display of pornographic images to a child, looking or viewing of a child’s genitalia without physical contact and using a child to produce child pornographic images or making actual sexual or physical contact with a child’s genitals.
Rape is the most common form of sexual abuse in Nigeria and in most cultures around the world. It is a severely traumatic experience that affects mostly children and women. Rape is a worldwide problem and a serious crime against humanity. The law on rape as spelt out in the Criminal Code Act of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria stipulates that anyone who is convicted of using violence to have carnal knowledge of a woman without her consent shall be guilty of rape and must be punished with life imprisonment; whereas an attempt to commit rape attracts 14 years imprisonment. Despite the legal provisions of life sentence for sexual assaulters, there are increasing cases of sexual abuse which are mostly not reported in Nigeria.
Sexual abuse involves different categories of individuals: adult and a child, an older child and a younger child, doctor and patient, teacher and student, priest and a member of his congregation, staff who takes care of a person(s) with disabilities or elderly persons and even spouses and parents.
Research has shown that most perpetrators of sexual abuse are mostly adults. It is important to note that women, men, boys and girls are all vulnerable to sexual abuse but girls are the most sexually abused. Girls are abused three times more often than boys but boys are more likely to die or be seriously injured by their abuse. Children of all ages from birth to adolescent age of 17 may be sexually abused, however, adolescents of age 14 to 17 are the most likely to be sexually victimized. Victims of sexual abuse, especially child sexual abuse usually do not disclose their plight to anyone. This is because the perpetrators often threaten them to keep silent or threaten to harm or disgrace them if they attempt to expose them. Victims in order to avoid embarrassment and stigmatization do not usually seek medical treatment. Most of them as a result suffer from extended trauma and infections arising from the assault. In situations where the victims try to disclose the crime to their parents, relatives or friends, they are discouraged from reporting the crime to the law enforcement agencies. A major reason for this is because, more often than not, the abuser is either a member of the family or someone of superior authority that has power over the victim. Thus, parents of victims often try to protect their family names and prevent their children from being ridiculed by the society. Moreover, even when sexual abuses are reported, law enforcement agencies mostly do not give the crimes the attention they deserve. The perpetrators are most often left to go scot free and what follows is the lingering and damaging effect on the abused.
Child sexual abuse often results in depression, eating disorders, post- traumatic stress, impaired ability to cope with stress and emotions, self -blame, self -harm, suicide, feelings of shame and guilt, brain damage, dissociation, memory impairment, reduced social functioning, sexually transmitted diseases e.g. HIV/AIDs etc. and pregnancy.
Child sexual abuse is not always easy to notice, however, there are a few signs that parents and guardians may watch out for to ensure the safety of their children. These include: emotional or behavioural changes (such as sudden clinging to parents, fear of being left alone, sadness, mood changes, sleep problems/ nightmares), bodily signs (such as bedwetting, sore genitals etc.), problems of learning at school, poor concentration, withdrawal from people/ social activities, anxiety, unnecessary risk taking behaviours, reluctance to spend time with a particular individual and use of sexually explicit language that is not usual for a child of their age. These and other indicators may require parents, care-givers and teachers involved in the welfare of their children to take necessary actions.
Sexual abuse can be prevented in various ways. Such as: public enlightenment through the media and relevant education in schools, churches, mosques, social clubs, cultural group gatherings; by inculcating moral instruction in schools, homes etc. which will go a long way in instilling good moral behaviour in young boys who otherwise become instruments of sexual abuse as well as girls who need to learn ways of protecting themselves against sexual abuse; through close watch by parents, guardians, schools etc. for unhindered access and opportunity as sexual abusers e.g. paedophiles cannot see opportunity to strike if there is no access; avoidance of lonely roads, opened drinks, being alone with a man or boy even if he is a friend or family member.
Sexual abuse can also be prevented if the following measures are adhered to: If a child is suspected of sexual abuse his or parents/ guardians should offer support to the child instead of blaming the child. Helping a child to break silence by staying calm is the first step in surviving child abuse. The child should be able to confide in his/her parents and with the parents believing the child’s disclosure in return and also restoring safety to the child by taking necessary steps in letting the child know that he/she is not at fault rather the abuser is. In addition, the national assembly should strengthen and ensure proper implementation of the Child’s Rights Act. The law enforcement agencies should arrest and prosecute perpetrators of sexual abuse and those found guilty be punished appropriately to serve as deterrent to others.
Yaba College of Technology Secondary School was established on the 27th of September, 1999 with an initial population of sixty (60) students, seven (7) full-time and twelve (12) part time staff. The pioneer Principal is Mrs. A.O. Adio-Moses and the pioneer staff on that...read more
