Child Abuse: Something the society must be well aware of

Child abuse has become a growing issue in our society in recent years. We have seen several cases of abuse in the last few years. Such cases include the abused video of a 14 year old girl tied up to a tree naked and a case where an Indian physiotherapist working in Hithadhoo Regional Hospital tried to molest a 15 year old girl and the Imam of Goidhoo island molesting five different girls of age around 11 to 19 years.

These are just some few hand picked cases that happened this year. There has been child abuse going on from a long time. The society has to be well aware that abusers are still living among us and must not give any chances to these people to come in the way of young girls and boys in this society. Since most children tend to keep these matters secret or hidden could mean that there maybe more unfiled cases that have not been heard either by family or by the children themselves. Child Abuse Watch Maldives blog further explains the reasons why these children tend to hide their nightmares on the post ‘How do you know if someone has been sexually abused in their childhood’. It says, “Sexually abused children keep their matters secret. Specially the fact that they were sexually abused. This secrecy hides them from being recognized as sexually abused. In addition, you would find that sexually abused children are silent and like to keep quiet.”

The children who are victims of child abuse have several mental and physiological consequences and these circumstances have a huge impact in their lives, even after they are grown up. As mentioned above these children are quiet and silent and they tend to keep their issues to themselves. Children suffering abuse develop a range of maladaptive, anti-social and self-destructive behaviors and thoughts by trying to cope with the abuse - by trying to understand the situation and why the abuse is happening. Other changes include academic difficulties, aggressive behavior, anxiety, attention problems and bad dreams or nightmares.

Here are some few articles which I came across while I searched the web for the child abuse cases in Maldives.

·

Assistant Island Chief of Shaviyani Maroshi arrested for Molesting 2 small boys. (Published on Jan 2008)

· Young girl sexually assaulted by Indian physiotherapist employing in Hithadhoo Regional Hospital. (Published on Nov 2007)

· Two arrested in Maduvvari for sexual assault on child. (Published on Oct 2007)

· Four Men Accused of raping a 12year old girl in LH. Kurendhoo (Published on July2007)

· Imaam accused of Molesting Children in Baa atoll Goidhoo (Published on May 2007)

With cases like these happening every now and then there are many challenges for the groups and organizations who work for the rights of the children and their security. The major challenge is the punishment that the convicts get are just few months in banishment in an island. Many believe that this is a far less punishment compared to the offense these ruthless people commit. Some even believe that banishment of these people to islands could also mean that they get more chances to repeat such crimes and it is more like an encouragement. The truth is that Child abuse is something the whole community must be well aware of in order to protect the lives of young girls and boys in our society.