SEXUAL abuse of children is a subjeci of much debate and controversy in the West, in the East it is not a subject at all. In Bangla desh. for example, it is treated as if non existent But child hood sexual abuse does exist tn every single society. In fact unofficial estimates would claim that one out of every three people In Bangladesh have been abused sexually tn some way or the other during childhood In most cases the person abusing Is a relative who takes advantage of the close relationships between relatives that is endorsed by our society More than any thing children s vulnerable po sitton and inability to protest against the abuse inflicted on them has resulted in these crimes going unpunished and therefore repeated again and again. For the first time, in Bangladesh a forum titled Breaking (he Silence, has been formed by a group of likeminded individuals who have decided to speak out against this unspeakable crime.

On April 27th 1995. the Forum arranged a public dis cussion on the subject at the WVA (Woman s Voluntary Association) auditorium in Dhaka. Among those who attended were writers, teachers. psychologists, scholars. Journalists and NGO officials, all with the common goal of discussing this sensitive subject of sexual abuse and trying to chalk out strategies that will protect children from such heinous crimes.

The discussion began by Mahbuba Aktar Mahmud's brief yet Informative address on childhood sexual abuse and how ft can be prevented. The Forum, started in March 1994. has two main objectives: to discuss the subject as extensively as possible thereby publicizing it and secondly, lo exchange views on the subject with school and college teach-

In her address. Mahmud pointed out some of the disturbing characteristics df sexual abuse of children:

— children are vulnerable and often become use to the abuse before they realtee what is going on.

— children are targets of such abuse because of the perverted sexual desires of certain individuals who find such de pl< >rable acts pleasure able.

— by abusing a child the abuser i- breaking his or her trust and disrupting normal development of the child. In the case where the child is abused by a close relative, ihe child becomes disillusioned and afraid. In such circumstances ft is vital for the child's mental development to restore his or her trust.

— a child's Inability to protest against the abuse be-

cause of shame or fear allows the abuser to continue the abuse without getting caught In the case where the child is a servant, the fear of losing his or her job may act as a dicin centtve to protest against the abuse

— sometimes the child is bribed or scared by the abuser so that he or she does not say anything.

— the insensitivity and ig norance of society often causes the abused child to feel ashamed, guilty and partially or fully responsible for what lias

happened to him or her. Society, too may blame the child victim Instead of the abuser, thus giving the abuser further licence to continue to abuse day after day.

Mahmud stressed that this silence must be broken. Children must be taught to protest against such crime and people must be made awar^ of the fact that such abuse does occur within the hidden walls of our society.

Rokunuzz’aman Khan. Director of Kochi Kanchar Mela and feature . editor of

Ittefaq. emphasized the role of organizations In preventing sexual abuse. There are a countless number of NGOs In this country: they have a responsibility to create awareness among people to prevent such abuse"

He also pointed out that inspite of there being laws in our country to penalise such crime but because of numerous loop iioles, such laws are rarely enforced. He cited the example of the much publicized Halima murder case A small girl < ailed Halima lived with her

parents in a basil. During the day little Halima would be left alone since her parents would have to go out for work. One evening when Halima s mother a part time domestic maid came back. Halima was nowhere to be found. After a relentless search. Halima was Anally found, her body mercilessly wounded and a metal rod in her private parts. She later died in hospital "Now after three years." says Khan, "nothing has been done to Caplure or punish the culprit. Tin'' is lw< ause there is never

any follow up of such cases, people just forget and the criminals go scotfree "

Khan emphasized that people must be made aware of such crime and laws related to child abuse, kidnapping or murder of children should be made more effective and quick in enforcement.

Dr Nllima Ibrahim teacher and writer, also a speaker at the forum commented that although sexual abuse of children was common in all classes of society, it occurred more amongst the poor. "In

Ihe basU" she said, "because of cramped living arrangements, children witness sexual acts at a very early age and when they are abused they begin to accept if undergoing great psychological trauma." The former director of Bangla Academy also mentioned small girls as young as seven or eight years old who are married off and are forced to have sex with their much older husbands. This is also a term of sexual abuse" she said.

Shafiq Rehman. 'Jai Jai Din editor spoke on the role of the media tn preventing child abuse. "I think almost all of us have been victims of such abuse one way or another. If people especially prominent personalities would come forward and speak of their own experiences, greater awareness could be created about this terrible crime." he said.

Rahman pointed out that in our country because it is considered a taboo subject people do not talk of such experiences and there was no information or statistics on the number of cases of sexual abuse. Rahman also warned against irresponsible reporting by the media of such abuse as this causes more harm than good

Safia Azim, a lecturer of psychology at Dhaka University gave a psychological analysis of sexual abuse and Its effects on the victims "Sexual abuse occurs at every stage of childhood." she said, and can change the personality of a person " Drug abuse. Juvenile delinquency, phobia, schy-zophrenia were some of the effects ol child abuse, she said

Azim said that even showing something that would be considered obscene should be termed as sexual abuse since even this has adverse psychological effects

Azim also said that there was a misconception that child abuse occurred only amongst the poor but actually it was present at all levels of society wtth at least 50 per cent committed by relatives Including the father, step-father, paternal and maternal uncles.

Dr Ahmedullah Mlah Director of UCEP. spoke on the role of developmental organisations in preventing child abuse. Among the suggestions he put forward were: parents should be more vigilant: the working environment of child workers should be monitored: children should be made aware of sexual abuse: and better child care facilities should be provided so that children are safe when they are not with their parents.

At any point in t(me. somewhere. somehow a small child in Bangladesh is being abused sexually. We may not be able to reach that child on time. We may not even know who he or she is. But we can certainly work towards saving the child .who may be the target of someone's perverted, debauched desire In the future. Child abuse is a very sensitive subject in a society where the word sex' Is a taboo subject. By bringing it out In the open the Breaking the Silence Forum maybe opening a Pandora's box as Shafiq Rehman sug-gesu-d. Yet il is definitely a box that needs <0 be opened.