Saving children from sexual abuse -

Our children do not seem to be safe anywhere. The number of sexual child victims is increasing day by day. According to Manusher Jonno Foundation, a total of 818 children were raped in 2021 whereas it was 626 in 2020. Of all the child rape victims, 10 were reportedly boys. Most likely these numbers are massively underreported. Most cases of abuse are hushed up by the families of the victims themselves due to social stigmas.

Childhood sex abuse can have long-term damaging impacts on the victim's mental health. In addition to that, our society's collective behaviour towards victims of abuse makes things all the more complicated as well. We end up blaming the victim instead of caring for them. Children are still molested each day, and there seems to be no end to it.

We, as a society, need to tackle this issue proactively. The relevant authorities must ensure that the laws are not just made stricter but implemented as well. Law enforcers should be provided specific training on how to handle cases related to child abuse. Sex education should be introduced to school curricula and children should be made aware of the concept of good touch and bad touch. Awareness campaigns should be run through various media platforms. We need to do a better job of protecting the children in our country so that their childhood may be preserved.

Fariha Tabassum Piya,

Student of Department of Management,

University of Dhaka, Dhaka,

f.tabassum36@gmail.com