DAY 12 OF THE 30 DAYS CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
In commemoration of the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse – November 19
Brought to you by the Centre for Total Child Development (CTCD)

PERPETRATORS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

People who sexually abuse children can be found in families, schools, churches, recreation centers, youth sports centres, and any other place children gather. They can be the child’s parents, siblings, relatives, neighbours, teacher, caregiver, religious leader, club leaders, strangers etc. Significantly, abusers can be and often are other children.

• About 90% of children who are victims of sexual abuse know their abusers. Only 10% of sexually abused children are abused by a stranger.
• Approximately 30% of children who are sexually abused are abused by family members.
• The younger the victim, the more likely it is that the abuser is a family member. Of those molesting a child under six, 50% were family members. Family members also accounted for 23% of these abusing children ages 12 to 17.
• About 60% of children who are sexually abused are abused by people the family trusts.

Child sexual abusers are often divided into two types – situational and preferential. Situational abusers are individuals that are not sexually attracted to children but become offenders under certain circumstances, such as intoxication with alcohol or drugs, stress, or temporary or permanent mental problems.

Preferential abusers have sexual interest in children. These are also referred to as pedophiles, although it should be noted that not all pedophiles are abusers.

WHAT ABOUT PEDOPHILES?

A pedophile is a person suffering from pedophilia which is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent is sexually attracted to young children. Pedophile can be anyone - old or young, rich or poor, education or uneducated etc.

Not everyone who sexually abuses children is a pedophile. Child sexual abuse is perpetrated by a wide range of individuals with diverse motivations. It is impossible to identify specific characteristics that are common to all those who molest children. Situational offenders tend to offend at times of stress and begin offending later than pedophilic offenders. They also have fewer victims (often family), and have a general preference for adult partners. Pedophilic offenders often start offending at an early age, and often have a large number of victims (frequently not family members).

ARE CHILDREN ALSO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSERS?

As many as 40% of children who are sexually abused are abused by older, or more powerful children. The younger the child victim, the more likely it is that the perpetrator is a juvenile. When the perpetrator of child sexual abuse is also a child, the act is defined as child-on-child sexual abuse.
• Juveniles are the offenders in 43% of assaults on children under age six. Of these offenders, 14% are under age 12.
• Juveniles who commit sex offenses against other children are more likely than adult sex offenders to offend in groups, to offend in schools, and to have more male victims and younger victims.
• A small number of juvenile offenders – one out of eight – are younger than age 12. Female constitute 7% of juveniles who commit sex offenses.

The rate at which older children abuse younger once is alarming. Class mates and peers have been known to sexually abuse their mates. It is even more prevalent in boarding schools where senior students sexually abused junior students. And the abuse can go on for a long time without the child been abused saying anything. Boarding schools that are all boys or all girls seems like a breeding ground for homosexual and lesbian sexual acts. If your child is in the boarding school please pay special attention to the child whenever he/she comes home for holiday.

HOMOSEXUAL CHILD ABUSERS

Some homosexuals (gay and lesbians) have been known to abuse children. Majority of the men that abuse boys sexually are homosexuals while that of the women who abuse girls sexually are lesbians. But research has also shown that not all homosexuals are child abusers. It is really difficult to know if someone is a gay or lesbian except he or she openly declare himself as one. Pedophiles could be homosexuals which can make them sexually abuse children. Children abused by homosexuals do not necessarily end up or converted to homosexual. Homosexual tendencies in children does not mean that they were sexually assaulted by gay people.

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If you know any child that is going through any form of child abuse please help the child to get help by reporting the abuse to the appropriate authority. CHILD ABUSE is all forms of physical and/or emotional maltreatment, sexual abuse, neglect, commercial or other exploitation of a child resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity.

In all actions concerning the child, his or her best interest and well-being must be given paramount consideration.

The use of a child for the purpose of begging for alms, prostitution, domestic or sexual labour, as a slave or practices similar to slavery, forced or compulsory labour or for any purpose that deprives the child of the opportunity to attend and remain in school is a crime and it attracts imprisonment for a term of 10 years.

Employing any person under 18 years as domestic help outside his home or family environment is a crime that attracts 5 years imprisonment.

Anybody who has sexual intercourse with a child less than 18 years will be convicted to imprisonment for life.

Exposing or involving a child in the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances is an offence liable to life imprisonment.

Every form of child abuse is a serious offence that is punishable by the law. Every child has the right to be free from every form of abuse.

Report any cases of child abuse to the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), your state Ministry of Women and Children Affairs or any NGO (Non-governmental Organisation) that advocates for the rights of children. If you notice any form of child abuse and you do not report, you are as guilty as the person committing the crime. Let’s join our hands to make the world a better place for children to live and grow.

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The Centre for Total Child Development, Ibadan cordially invites you to her 2021 ANNUAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION CONFERENCE and the Child Development in Nigeria Merit Award

THEME: Protecting Children, Promoting Healthy Families and Preserving Communities

FEATURES: Plenary Sessions | Workshops | Skill Seminars | Walk Against Child Abuse | Inter-School Child Abuse Awareness Competition | Award Presentations & Prize Giving

DATE: 19th November, 2021

VENUE: Oyesina Hall, Oke Bola, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

TIME: 9.00am prompt

PARTICIPANT: Students in secondary schools, voluntary organisations, religious institutions and orphanage homes, teachers, parents, children workers, and other stakeholders

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is FREE but registration is a MUST. To register please call/sms/whatsapp: 08180495451 or send email to emailtotalchild@gmail.com

SPONSORS & VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME

If you are interested in what we do, you can get involved in 3 ways:
1. Volunteer Partner: Join our vibrant team of volunteers to administer support to the children and young people coming for the Conference.
2. Resource Partner: Donate academic materials, products and other gift items to be given freely to the children and young people coming for the conference. You can also donate materials, equipment and facilities to support our cause.
3. Financial Partner: Donate fund to help us execute this Conference

Special thanks to those supporting us:
* In Service of Humanity Foundation, Lagos - @isohfoundation
* Onus Communications, Ibadan - @onuscommunications

For more information please contact:

CENTRE FOR TOTAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT
18, Anfani Road, Off Ring Road, Challenge, Ibadan
www.facebook.com/totalchilddev
www.instagram.com/totalchildev
Tel: 08180495451; 08101809463