Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse: Tosin Folarin

Hi there! I hope you had a great week? and most importantly, a great start for a new week? Thank you for coming back on the blog an i hope you learn enough to be equipped to guarantee that more children are saved from the menace of child sexual abuse.

 

Remember how the previous post gave an introduction to what child sexual abuse is and the reality of it? (You can read it here in case you haven't read it yet). Today, i will be discussing a few tips on protection and how to guarantee that we end child sexual abuse in our environment and globally.

STEPS TO PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE

1. Learn About It!

It is important that we keep our selves abreast of basic facts about child abuse such as the statistics, the symptoms, how to avoid child sexual abuse around us. Let us read about it.

2. Educate people about

A good number of people shy away from talking about child sexual abuse.​ People may not report their concerns because they do not consider it any of their business, or they do not trust child protection agencies.
Effective protection of children relies on Active Citizens reporting their concerns for a child harmed.



3. Recognize Vulnerable Children

Around us there are children who are vulnerable. Children often show us rather than tell us that something is worrying or upsetting them; so being aware of the warnings signs is vital. The presence of one or more of these factors may be an indicator that a child could be abused. Isolation, lack of support, withdrawal, children with disabilities, low self-esteem etc.

4. Be-proactive and Report.

If a child is trying to make a disclosure about sexual abuse, respond promptly with care and urgency. Believe the child (children will rarely tell a lie about sexual abuse) be supportive, assure the child that he/she will never get to see the perpetrator again, Stay calm (don’t get angry or shout at them).




Child sexual abuse cases should be reported to institutions that will ensure justice for children.  Here are some:

i. The Cece Yara Foundation
Website: www.ceceyarafoundation. Org
Toll free line: 08008008001

ii. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team
Toll free line 112
07080601080

iii. The Mirabel Center:
08187243468

iiii. Police Stations with child protection units.

For the comprehensive list of our Abuse Prevention Tips, Please visit our instagram page @thenineteeninitiative

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Child Sexual Abuse: The Face and Reality.

Child Sexual Abuse: The Face and Reality with Tosin Folarin. 

Child sexual abuse, is a form of  abuse in which an adult or older adolescent engages a child (0-18) in sexual acts. This can occur in various forms e.g. child grooming, sexting, indecent exposure (of the genitals, female nipples, etc.),  or using a child to produce child pornography.

It is refuting to think child sexual abuse doesn’t happen in our community. Sometimes, when people think about child abuse, they picture an old rickety man in an abandoned building signaling on a child by the road side to come take biscuit. This is a myth! Sexual abuse doesn’t happen to the less privileged children alone.  Child sexual abuse can occur in a variety of settings, including home, school, and work. The perpetuators of this abuse are usually the caregivers (people we entrust children to; to protect and care for them) e.g. Fathers, Uncles, Aunties, House-helps, Teachers, Gatemen, neighbors etc. 

Statistics have shown that over 90 percent of sexually abused children are abused by someone known by the child or family.

 Additionally,

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys in Nigeria experience sexual abuse before the age of 18 years. 

Every afternoon, no less than 5,000 boys in Nigeria experience Sexual Violence.

61% of boys in Nigeria who experience Childhood Sex Abuse do not know where to seek help. 

84% of girls in Nigeria who experience Childhood Sex Abuse do not know where to seek help. 

20 percent of childhood rape attempt occur in school.

The effect of child sexual abuse is devastating as some can be short term some of which may include sleep disturbance, bed wetting, eating disorders. The long term effects are depression, low self-esteem,  feelings of betrayal, abnormal view of sex, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, withdrawal, propensity to further victimization in adulthood, complex post-traumatic stress disorder,  and physical injury to the child the list is endless.

A good number of people shy away from talking about child sexual abuse, perhaps we believe if we do not talk about it, it doesn’t exist or perhaps many cases has to deal with incest and we are afraid of bringing ‘shame’ to the family. Whatever the case may be we need to talk about it. We need to take report.

As active citizens we have a role to play in curbing child sexual abuse. It is our responsibility to ensure that every child in our environment is safe and free from child sexual abuse. It is our role to ensure that every child enjoy their childhood without been sexually abused.

How can we ensure this? What is our role? Who will save the child? These and many more questions will be answered in the next series. 

About Tosin Folarin.

Tosin Folarin is a Child's  Rights Advocate who works hard to ensure that childhood is not disrupted by abuse or any form of injustice to the child. She is a Child Helpline Counselor with Cece Yara Foundation, a leading Non Profit Organization specifically designed to end Child Sexual Abuse.
Tosin is a volunteer par excellence who has dedicated her youth to serving humanity by volunteering for worthy causes. She is a Sustainable Development Goals Advocate for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) where she creates awareness about the SDGs in secondary schools.
She is an Education Advisor with Titivator Hub where she does research, advocacy and book drives for Internally Displaced Children in Durumi camp, Abuja.
Previously, she served as an  International Citizens Service volunteer with VSO where she bagged the National Volunteer Award (2016) in the United Kingdom. She supported an agricultural project through training of farmers in the Cocoa value chain, adult literacy facilitation, business skills training and mentoring among others.
In her free time, Tosin writes on social issues and supports campaiigns aimed at making the world a sustainable hub for human existence.

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