Children Empowerment Inc.
INFORMATION CENTER
Liberia has discover Oil, but FACE has discovered something more- The Potential in the Children of Liberia
Child sexual abuse: The Hidden Evil
Child sexual abuse is a hidden but significant problem in every community in Liberia. Experts estimate that one in four girls and one in ten boys will be sexually abused before they are 18 years old. Less than one in ten will report it. Research clearly shows that individuals who are sexually abused as children are far more likely to experience psychological problems often lasting into adulthood, including Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, depression, substance abuse and relationship problems. They are also likely to catch HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Child sexual abuse does not recognize region, race, creed, socio-economic status or gender; it crosses all boundaries to impact every community and every person in the country. If child sexual abuse were like most childhood diseases, the prevalence and consequences of it would lead to the raising of money for its cure or prevention every weekend. But child sexual abuse is one of the last cultural taboos. With the exception of child-focused personal safety programs, almost nothing is being done to address this evil and dehumanizing act.
Foundation for Aiding Children Empowerment (FACE) believes that adults should be taking proactive steps to protect children from this significant risk during these festive seasons and always. It is unrealistic to think that a young child can take responsibility for fending off sexual advances by an adult. Adults are responsible for the safety of children. Adults are the ones who need to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Yet, the statistics clearly show that adults arent shouldering this responsibility. FACE believes that adults just dont know how.
Here are some things you need to know about child sexual abuse as adults
It happens more than you think. A lot more - one in four girls and one in ten boys will be sexually abused before their eighteenth birthday.
It can happen right under your nose and you may never know - less than one victim in ten will tell.
The perpetrators arent usually dirty old men hiding in the bushes - 34% of those who sexually abuse children are family members. A further 59% are friends and acquaintances of the child and his family.
You probably dont realize how big the problem is till the child begin to fall physically or emotionally ill.
And were not talking about young teenagers having consensual sex - the median age for sexual abuse is just nine years of age, but is even reaching to four year olds.
Child sexual abuse is not just a bad experience. Child sexual abuse victimizes the child, undermines community development, and wrecks young lives - victims of child sexual abuse are at far greater risk for all sorts of psychological disorders and sexually transmitted diseases including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-PTSD, depression, substance abuse, relationship problems, HIV and AIDS, syphilis, and many other deadly diseases that often last into adulthood.
FACE would like to in the most strongest of terms condemn the two most recent allegations involving the 52 year man rapping the two girl children and the adult male who sodomised a little boy.
These stories and others in the past are a call to action to all adults to step up to keeping children safe from sexual harm. It is not about one individual, one system that failed to protect, or one male scandal.
As parents, as members of the community, as leaders of organizations, we need to ask ourselves what we can do to prevent the next child from sexual harm. Because, unfortunately, it will happen again, unless something fundamental changes. Each of us needs to step up to the plate before more children are harmed by child sexual abuse.
WRITTEN BY:
Momolu J. Johnson, Sr.
Founder/Administrator - FACE
SOLUTIONS
Child sexual exploitation and abuse is unacceptable because it exploits and victimizes the child. It undermines development and is detrimental to physical and emotional health. We are encouraging adults and children participation in the movement that works to ensure better protection for victimized children; and it calls for the elimination of all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse against children. It is under this context that the Foundation for Aiding Children Empowerment (FACE) requests the reader to support it's proposals for the enhancement of adults and children commitments towards social transformation leading to a vibrant society that values children’s right to grow free of any form of sexual exploitation and abuse in the country and beyond.
Child sexual exploitation and abuse victimizes the child, and it’s Unacceptable. Remember, the most effective prevention takes place before there's a child victim to heal or an offender to punish. Be proactive and not reactive.
FACE Condemns Sodomy of 4 Year Old Boy.
(FACE…MONROVIA/ FEBRUARY 29, 2012)
AS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL LEVELS, THE FOUNDATION FOR AIDING CHILDREN’S EMPOWERMENT (FACE) IS DEEPLY TROUBLED BY REPORTS OF A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD BEING SODOMIZED BY A 19 YEAR OLD MAN.
FACE CATEGORICALLY CONDEMNS THE ACTION OF THE PERPETRATOR IN THE STRONGEST TERM AND IS CALLING ON THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO SPEEDILY TRIAL THE CASE SO AS TO SERVE JUSTICE TO THE VICTIM AND HIS FAMILY.
FACE ALSO BELIEVES, THAT IF THE PERPETRATOR IS SPEEDILY BROUGHT TO BOOK, IT WILL SERVE AS A DETERRENT FACTOR TO WOULD BE PERPETRATOR(S) WHO WILL LIKE TO EXPLOIT THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION SAYS, IF LIBERIA IS TO HAVE A VIBRANT, SOUND, SAFE, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL FUTURE, VICES SUCH AS CHILD ABUSE/ EXPLOITATION, MOLESTATION, EARLY MARRIAGE, TRAFFICKING, LABOR AND PORNOGRAPHY MUST BE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED, CONDEMNED AND GIVEN NO SPACE IN OUR SOCIETY.
FACE WILL ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO URGE PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND CARE-GIVERS OF CHILDREN TO STRENGTHEN THEIR VIGILANCE IN ORDER TO PROTECT KIDS FROM WOULD-BE ABUSERS. THE ORGANIZATION NOTED THAT IF CHILDREN ARE TRULY THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY, CONCRETE STEPS MUST BE TAKEN TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM HARM AND DANGER AND ENSURED THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY DEVELOPED TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
THE INQUIRER NEWS PAPER REPORTED IN ITS TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2012 EDITION, THE SODOMY OF A 4 YEAR OLD KID BY A 19 YEAR OLD MAN.
FACE will be conducting another workshop for the volunteers this month. A minimum of $L150.00 is required for the preparation of the Certificates.
All interested volunteers are encouraged to please follow the below schedule.
Registration Date: 12-09-2012 to 25-09-2012
Contact Person: Momolu J. Johnson, Sr.
Contact Numbers: 05739905 / 077008110
Workshop Date: 29-09-2012
Time: 9:00 am
Venue: PAP Annex UNMIL Radio Meeting Room
ANNOUNCEMENTS
What hurts me as a child
What hurts, what breaks my heart as a child is to see children of my age or younger or older than me being used as breadwinners for their families, with bundles of goods on their heads, ragged clothes on their backs, old slippers or none to wear, roaming about the streets, in the hot sun, under the rain, praying that all of their goods will be bought sooner so that they can go home and rest, did I say go home and rest? ummmmmmm, I forgot, no rest, go home and run errands. O my God, it hurts me as a child.
What hurts me as a child is the countless nightmares of children being raped by heartless men who ought to be their brothers, uncles, fathers and grandfathers. This one hurts me the most, sometimes, the doers are people these kids live with and interact with, oooooooh, a child has bled to death, all because of being raped, aaaaah, my heart is failing me, a womb has been torn apart, chance of giving birth is slim or will never exist, a child goes through an endless cycle of trauma. Lord, help me here.
What hurts me as a child is to see “babies bringing forth babies” , don’t spoil your future, yes, I am speaking to you. Enjoy your childhood, teens, get fully prepared physically, mentally, financially and maturely before you become a mother or a father.
Another thing that hurts me is to see how some adults, older folks used and turned children into child soldiers; taking away from them the meaning of love, kindness and teaching them brutality, and merciless acts. Please, war inventors, war lords, war gurus, war planners, remove the guns, bombs, grenades, rockets, from the hands of the children and war language from their tongues, and replace them with books, harmless toys, and all the goodies of life.
What hurts me as a child is to see some parents, societies, communities, nations failing the children. The children are quickly punished for doing wrongs, but rewards are withheld or given late when they performed rightly. The children are isolated or pushed aside when decisions concerning them are made, even on the national scene.
It hurts it hurts it hurts, stop hurting me!!
Written by Olivia Precious Livingstone ( Mobile #: 077 696 5593)
Saint Theresa Convent Catholic School, Randall Meatta Street