SOS child abuse: What should we do?

The current situation of child abuse and sexual exploitation is alarming. (Image: Internet)

According to statistics from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, approximately 2,000 cases of child abuse are detected in Vietnam each year, with sexual abuse accounting for over 60% of these cases.

Some cases go undetected for a long time, and the victims of typical sexual abuse cases include babies as young as a few months old. The abusers are often people the children know, including stepfathers and even their biological fathers.

Perhaps never before has the issue of preventing and combating child abuse been as urgent as it is today. What can be done to prevent and combat child abuse and sexual molestation? This responsibility does not belong to any one person alone!

Dr. Hoang Thi Thu - Deputy Director of the Reproductive Health Care Center of Nghe An Province

Dr. Hoang Thi Thu - Deputy Director of the Reproductive Health Care Center of Nghe An province. Photo: Ho Phuong

In 2018, the Nghe An Provincial Reproductive Health Care Center received several cases of child abuse involving sexual assault and rape (an average of one child per month). After contacting and discussing the cases, we found that the children suffered significant trauma, especially psychologically. They all showed fear, lacked concentration in their studies, and constantly felt insecure. They also suffered physiological trauma; in the long term, their reproductive organs were affected.

To reduce child abuse, relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health need to further strengthen community awareness campaigns on child protection; coordinate with the education sector and schools to organize talks and thematic activities so that children better understand their psychological and physical development, as well as measures to avoid risky individuals and how to protect themselves from danger.

Children who are abused or sexually assaulted suffer lifelong trauma. (Image: Internet)

From the family's perspective, we need to understand that children are not like adults; they are still very young and naive, unable to distinguish between harmful behaviors stemming from candy, cakes, or friendly words. Therefore, families need to teach their children to be wary of potential dangers and to stay away from dangerous places such as deserted areas, dark places, or places where there is a large or excessive presence of people of the opposite sex.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lai, Hung Loc commune, Vinh city:

I am worried and very confused. My confusion stems from the fact that while cases of child molestation and abuse have occurred quite frequently in the past, and the perpetrators were often drug addicts or people with low levels of awareness, recently there has been a surge in cases where the perpetrators are individuals with higher levels of education and awareness, such as teachers (the people parents trust the most) or retired officials who previously worked in law enforcement agencies.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lai, a resident of Hung Loc commune, Vinh city. Photo: Ho Phuong

It's time for stronger action. Party committees, government agencies, and political and social organizations need to intensify propaganda activities about the inviolable rights of children; acts of child molestation and abuse are serious crimes.

Besides the involvement of all levels and sectors, I think parents need to pay more attention to and take better care of their children; never taking their eyes off them. In addition to care, parents need to equip their children with necessary skills, such as how to behave when meeting strangers and how to interact with acquaintances. The most difficult thing is dealing with acquaintances, as observations show that the vast majority of perpetrators of sexual abuse and exploitation are people known to the parents...

Parents should study the "four circles" rule, as outlined by Dr. Vu Thu Huong, former lecturer in the Department of Primary Education at Hanoi Pedagogical University: With close relatives (parents, siblings), children are allowed (or permitted) to hug, kiss, and hold them; with close family members such as relatives, teachers, and friends, children are allowed to hold hands, stroke hair, and pat shoulders; with acquaintances (trusted neighbors, parents' colleagues, vetted by the family), children are allowed to shake hands; with strangers, children only need to wave hello and goodbye. Outside of these circles, with "suspicious people," children should wave away to avoid contact.

The rule of four circles. Photo: Internet

Martial arts master Le Van Trung - Vice President of the Nghe An Martial Arts Federation

We need to clearly understand the issue: For very young children, martial arts techniques are almost meaningless. For example, for children aged 6-7, the maximum height they can raise their legs is only to the hips, and their strength is too weak to "kick" an attacker. Therefore, advice to fight back is incorrect; in fact, such actions may provoke the abuser, potentially leading to more serious consequences.

Martial arts master Le Van Trung - Vice President of the Nghe An Martial Arts Federation. Photo: Thanh Chung

What's important here is that children need to clearly understand what constitutes self-preservation. This could include knowing to run to a police officer or an elderly person if a stranger follows them, talking to them, and asking for help getting home. A person with bad intentions might think the child has met a relative and leave. In a place with people, the victim can scream loudly if a stranger touches their private parts.

When confronted by a pervert in an elevator, many people advise children to kick the perpetrator in the groin or punch them in the face. However, this is difficult to do. If it's a 6-year-old child who doesn't practice martial arts, their maximum leg height is only hip-high, and their strength is too weak to "kick" the perpetrator.

Therefore, to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation, equipping children with safety knowledge and skills to protect themselves is extremely important. Safety skills here include escape skills and the will to escape. Just like martial arts techniques and movements, escape skills and the will to escape must be practiced and nurtured every day... Children practicing martial arts not only improve their health but also cultivate these skills and willpower.

Ms. Cao Thi Thuy - Teacher at Hanh Thiet Secondary School, Quy Chau District

Ms. Cao Thi Thuy - Teacher at Hanh Thiet Secondary School, Quy Chau District. Photo: Thanh Chung

We need to equip children with the ability to identify behaviors that constitute abuse so they can avoid it. Specifically, these include behaviors such as kissing, touching, and fondling the upper and lower genital areas. When these signs or behaviors occur, children need to be aware and report them to adults such as their parents or teachers so that appropriate measures can be taken to ensure their safety.

Preventing child abuse and sexual exploitation is not the responsibility of any one individual, but of the entire society. Families need to be close to, care for, pay attention to, and share with their children. Schools must educate and help children recognize and avoid such behavior. The community needs to strongly combat child sexual abuse. Legislative, judicial, and executive bodies need to take strong action and severely punish these depraved acts.

Dr. Nguyen Trong Hai, Lawyer - Trong Hai & Associates Law Firm

Dr. Nguyen Trong Hai, Lawyer - Trong Hai & Associates Law Firm. Photo: Ho Phuong

The reality of child abuse and sexual exploitation has become an alarming issue. Acts of child abuse and sexual exploitation now occur not only in "out-of-sight" places, but also openly in public areas, even with surveillance cameras. Therefore, any environment now becomes a potential risk of abuse for children if adults are not vigilant and complacent.

This situation arises partly because the provisions of the Criminal Code regarding the crime of sexual abuse against persons under 16 years of age are unclear; there is no clear definition of what constitutes sexual abuse, and there is inconsistency in interpretation. Therefore, determining evidence is very difficult, and many cases of child sexual abuse cannot be prosecuted due to lack of evidence. This is a legal loophole.

Meanwhile, on the victim's side – having witnessed lenient sentences for acts of sexual abuse (the highest being 12 years imprisonment - Article 146 of the Criminal Code) – this has become a psychological barrier, preventing them from bringing the matter to court and instead opting for a compromise with the perpetrator.

The penalties for child sexual abuse should be increased. (Image: Internet)

Specifically, the Code of Child Care and Protection includes provisions for dealing with child abusers, regardless of age, including those under 16 and under 13. However, penalties for indecent assault are often very light, with a maximum sentence of 3 years imprisonment; while those for sexual abuse are more severe... Therefore, offenders tend to underestimate the severity of the punishment and have a mentality of not fearing the law.

One worrying aspect is the unclear definition of "sexual abuse" and "sexual assault." Therefore, in many cases, perpetrators of sexual abuse have found ways to evade punishment. To prevent these acts, I believe that the government and organizations responsible for protecting children must clearly recognize the risks. The National Assembly needs to consider amending the law and significantly increasing the penalties.

Reporters' Team