If we remain quiet when it happens, it is our fault
KARACHI: Child abuse is a hot button issue in the world. Though seldom acknowledged, it seems to be increasing at an alarming rate.
This is happening because we as a people have either lost our voice or we choose not to use our voice. Our children are being physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually abused on a daily basis and they are too afraid to speak up about it. This is mainly because they realise that the adults around them are not doing anything to prevent it.
Child abuse is a problem that affects everyone, and so everyone needs to take a stand against it. We see a lot of these stories on TV, hear them on the radio, and read about them in the paper, and we routinely express disgust about it, but how many of us give it a second thought? Do we wonder what happened to that child and how often their abusers are punished?
Who is to be blamed when a child is abused? Do we blame the child or the abuser? What about the parents or guardians of that child, are they to be blamed as well? Why do we ignore these things when they happen? We need to speak against child abuse! We are all to be blamed because we know about it yet we keep silent. It is not our child or a member of our family, so why should we bother to report it?
This happens in many communities. There are men who molest young girls for years, or even have children with them but no one says anything. We refuse to speak. When this happens the offender feels protected and so he does it again and again.
In a way, we are all to be blamed for child abuse. If we remain quiet when it happens, it is our fault. Do not let any more of our children suffer because of our silence.
Maharukh Sajid
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2017.
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