Strengthening Prevention: A Collective Responsibility

“The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children.”- Nelson Mandela. Globally, countless young individuals are victims of sexual misconduct and exploitation. Such violations are pervasive, cutting across all nations and societal strata. The United Nations adds, children, especially girls, are at a greater risk of experiencing forced sex and sexual exploitation, abuse and violence, including both online and offline, and it’s also a common situation during armed conflicts. In the global context of multiple challenges the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, climate change and disasters, the inadequate action, or measures to address the root causes, such as rising inequalities, deepening poverty, and structural discrimination on intersecting grounds, continue to exacerbate the situations that expose children to exploitation, abuse and violence. Child victims and survivors of such crimes can face long-lasting negative impacts on their physical, mental, and sexual health and development. Such trauma on children may even amount to torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. Many victims and survivors never disclose and/or seek justice, rehabilitation or support because of the shame. For many victims and survivors, their child abuse experience affects their physical and mental health and well-being, and sometimes there are lifelong consequences. The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a violation of human rights and a public health problem with significant consequences for global health and development.The day must be one of affirming the need to eliminate and prevent all forms of child sexual exploitation, abuse and violence and to promote the dignity and rights, including mental and physical health and healing, of those who experience child sexual exploitation, abuse and violence. November 18th each year is observed by the United Nations as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. The day is a global initiative to raise awareness about the devastating impact of child sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence (CSEAV) and to advocate for prevention and healing measures. The theme for World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from CSEAV 2023 is “Strengthening Prevention: A Collective Responsibility.” This theme emphasizes the shared responsibility we all have to prevent CSEAV by creating safe and supportive environments for children. It is critical that a global visibility of such an important day be made regarding the trauma of child sexual abuse. Latin America and the Caribbean. The region has not been spared this public health emergency of child abuse and exploitation. The Inter-American Development Bank, (IDB) reports that two out of every three children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean are victims of child abuse or violent discipline at home, according to the most recent statistics. The IDB states that this promotes the intergenerational transmission of violence and has a close link to other delinquent behaviors. A key to eradicating this type of violence lies in improving parenting practices, which requires institutional capacity to effectively implement social interventions. Strengthening institutional capacity to implement social interventions effectively is crucial. Consequently, the Inter-American Development Bank has recently evaluated two interventions that provide various lessons to advance in this direction. One of the interventions was carried out in Jamaica, and its objective was to reduce coercive practices among caregivers of children and adolescents aged 6 to 15 years old through home visitations and group workshops; and the second one was carried out in El Salvador to promote positive parenting practices and manage stress in times of uncertainty among caregivers of children under 8 years old through the digital communication channel. Global Problem. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #16 speaks to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development as well as the access to justice to all citizens. Clearly an inclusive society takes into account our children. Worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 120 million females under the age of 20 have experienced various forms of forced sexual contact. Unfortunately, there are no global estimates available for sexual violence against boys and this is problematic. Boys too are victims of forced sexual contact. The observance of such a day speaks to the decay and dysfunction within societies. Our children continue to be abused whether online or in the physical space. Many of us as adults know of instances of such horrific acts yet we remain silent. Our continued silence allows for the perpetrators of such crimes to go unpunished. In order to tackle this scourge against children we must advocate for quality education in as much as raise public awareness of those affected by child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse and exploitation remain concealed and stigmatized in many regions worldwide. To address this issue and break the cultural barriers of silence and resistance, it's essential to disseminate knowledge and effective strategies, starting from community levels and extending to national approaches. There is an urgency of action to prevent and eliminate child sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence, including online and offline. There is an imperative to hold perpetrators to account. Civil society and governments must redouble their efforts ensuring access of survivors and victims to justice and remedies, as well as to facilitate open discussion on the need to prevent and eliminate their stigmatization, promote their healing, affirm their dignity, and protect their rights. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. Many historians have argued that the period of enslavement, particularly the Transatlantic Slave Trade had a multigenerational traumatic experience for the descendants of the enslaved. This unhealed trauma is transferred in the ways many of us punish our children to the point where such punishments fit the realm of child abuse and exploitation. Obviously, this is not an excuse for the abuse of children but nonetheless Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome cannot be discounted. Post traumatic slave syndrome (PTSS) is defined as a condition that exists when a population has experienced multigenerational trauma resulting from centuries of slavery and continues to experience oppression. Since its inception, World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from CSEAV has evolved in its focus, shifting from a solely commemorative day to one that actively promotes prevention, healing, and advocacy. The day has become a platform for organizations, governments, and individuals worldwide to raise awareness, share best practices, and mobilize resources to combat CSEAV. Given the proliferation of social media platforms there is no excuse for anyone to sit on the fence. We all have a part to play in breaking the silence as it relates to the abuse of our children. In the words of Elie Wiesel, what hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © # WorldDayforthe PreventionofandHealingfrom ChildSexualExploitation AbuseandViolence