‘Unspoken Pandemic 2020’: A discussion on speaking to children on child abuse tomorrow

LEADS has organised a webinar on 24 October at 4 p.m. to speak about the importance of talking to children on child abuse. It intends to build a public discourse surrounding it thus bringing everyone together to ensure that every child is protected and has a safe and wholesome environment to grow in.  

As Nelson Mandela stated, “We owe our children a life free of violence and fear” – and LEADS invites all to be a part of the journey in creating a safer environment for our children. It is vital to speak to our children regarding child abuse and how to protect themselves from a younger age. 

This children’s month, the unspoken pandemic of sexual violence experienced by children should not be forgotten – therefore LEADS invites all to join ‘Unspoken Pandemic 2020’ and be a pillar of influence in creating a change for our future generation. Click here to register: bit.ly/2T4py0Q 

The panellists are:

1. Kimarli Fernando – Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism 

2. Chamithri Rambukwella – Director Communication, Prime Minister’s Office

3. Dr. M. Ganeshan – Consultant Psychiatrist, National Institute of Mental Health

4. Dulinda Perera – CEO, IKON Marketing

5. Monroe Jayasuriya – CEO, LEADS Sri Lanka 

6. Hithara Kuruwita – Child Representative 

7. Danu Innasithamby – Moderator

LEADS is a child-focused charity registered under the Ministry of Social Services (L11401/2000) passionate and committed to working towards the best interest of the child through national policy and at grassroots with survivors of abuse in strengthening the families and communities of children at risk. 

LEADS’ area of work covers community development, child protection, and crisis. With a staff of over 100 dedicated individuals, LEADS’s work covers 12 of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka. Currently, LEADS offers a range of services including therapy, family follow-ups, legal aid, awareness, and training. Awareness and training programs are carried out for various stakeholders including parents, teachers, preschool teachers, students, government officers, social workers, and many others.

Importance of talking to children on child abuse

On the day the world celebrates the child, the bitter truth is that throughout the world this same child is denied rights envisaged under international instruments, mainly the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). 

According to the United Nations World Health Organization, “Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence, and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development, or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power” (Child maltreatment, 2020). 

Social media handles: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LEADSmakingadifference 

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/leadssrilanka/   

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LEADSSriLanka 

An area the child is greatly disadvantaged is the protection offered to them. This is the main concern, given the recorded number of abuse cases children undergo per annum. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, children were greatly exposed to the adverse effects of abuse. As of mid-July, the number of recorded child abuse cases reached 5,242 the Police Media Division reported (Child abuse cases soar past 5,000 – The Morning – Sri Lanka News, 2020).  It should be noted that only a limited number of cases are reported, as unfortunately because of shame, embarrassment, and misplaced guilt, these trespasses either take years or often never come to light.  

Along with therapeutic care, spreading awareness of child protection is crucial to prevent children from being abused. Beginning to talk with children while they are young is important to help them understand issues and risks that may occur in later years. Prevention means promoting healthy behaviours rather than waiting to punish violations. Kids shouldn’t be given the responsibility to recognise and challenge unsafe behaviours in adults or older children. Children are safer when adults choose to share prevention information and speak up as soon as they have a concern—rather than waiting for evidence of harm. 

Educating children about the difference between good touch and bad, emphasising on the child’s right to request privacy or say “no” and informing children to speak to a trusted person if they feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused about someone’s behaviour toward them are crucial steps to be taken among many others.

Research suggests that the child knows the perpetrator in the majority of sexual abuse cases. Therefore vigilance on the part of parents, and above all the education of children on how to respond to potentially harmful situations, are of paramount importance in the prevention of child abuse.