SOS Child Abuse: What Should We Do?

The current situation of child abuse and molestation is alarming. Photo: Internet

According to statistics from the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, each year in Vietnam about 2,000 abused children are discovered, of which sexually abused children account for more than 60%.

Some cases take a long time to be discovered. The victims of typical sexual abuse cases include babies only a few months old, and the abusers are mostly acquaintances of the children, even the children's stepfathers and biological fathers.

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

Doctor Hoang Thi Thu - Deputy Director of Nghe An Province Reproductive Health Care Center

Doctor Hoang Thi Thu - Deputy Director of Nghe An Province Reproductive Health Care Center. Photo: Ho Phuong

In 2018, Nghe An Province Reproductive Health Care Center received a number of children who were abused in the form of rape (on average about 1 child/month). After contacting and discussing, we realized that the children were greatly traumatized, especially psychologically. They all showed fear, could not concentrate on studying, and always felt inferior. They also suffered physiological trauma; in the long term, their genitals were affected.

To limit the situation of child abuse, functional agencies such as the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs - the Department of Health need to further promote propaganda in the community about child protection; coordinate with the Department of Education and schools to organize talks and thematic activities so that children can better understand the development of psychology and physiology as well as measures to prevent risky subjects and know how to protect themselves from risks.

Children who are abused and molested suffer lifelong trauma. Photo: Internet

On the family side, we need to clearly see that children are not like adults, they are too young to differentiate between bad behavior that originates from candy, cake or intimate words. Therefore, families need to teach their children to be alert to risky objects, stay away from dangerous locations such as deserted places, dark places or places where there are too many people of the opposite sex.

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

I am worried and very confused. The confusion is that: Although there have been many cases of child molestation and abuse in the past, the perpetrators are usually drug addicts or people with low awareness. However, recently, there has been a rise in cases of people with high levels of education and awareness, such as teachers (who parents trust the most), and retired officials who used to work in law enforcement agencies.

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

It is time to take stronger action. Party committees, authorities, and political and social organizations need to step up propaganda activities on the inviolability of children; acts of child molestation and abuse are serious crimes.

In addition to the involvement of all levels and sectors. I think parents need to pay more attention and take better care of their children; never take their eyes off their children at any time. In addition to care, parents need to equip their children with necessary skills such as how to meet strangers and how to meet acquaintances. The most difficult thing is to behave with acquaintances when through surveillance, the majority of the subjects of indecent assault and abuse are acquaintances...

Parents should study the 4-circle rule that Dr. Vu Thu Huong - former lecturer of the Faculty of Primary Education, Hanoi Pedagogical University once mentioned, which is: With blood relatives (father, mother, siblings), children are allowed (or allowed) to hug, kiss, and hold; With close relatives such as relatives, teachers, friends, children are allowed to hold hands, stroke hair, and pat shoulders; with acquaintances (trusted neighbors, parents' colleagues, screened by the family), children are allowed to shake hands; with strangers, children only need to wave hello, goodbye. Outside of all these circles, with "worrisome people", children wave their hands and do not contact.

4 circle rule. Photo: Internet

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

We need to clearly see the problem: For children who are too young, martial arts techniques are almost meaningless. For example, for children aged 6-7, the maximum ability to raise their legs is only up to the hips, and with weak strength, how can they "kick" the subject. Therefore, advice to fight back is not correct, these actions even stimulate the abuser, possibly leading to more serious consequences.

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

What you need to do here is to clearly identify what is self-rescue behavior, which could be running to a police officer or an elderly person if a stranger follows you, talking to them and asking them to take you home. Someone with bad intentions will think that the child is meeting a relative and leave. In a place with people, the victim can scream loudly when a stranger touches their private parts.

When confronted with a molester in an elevator, many people advise children to kick the subject’s private parts or hit the subject’s face. However, this is difficult to do. If a 6-year-old child does not practice martial arts, the maximum ability to raise his leg is only up to the hips, and the force is weak, how can he “kick” the subject?

Thus, to prevent child molestation and abuse, equipping children with knowledge and safety 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 also be practiced and nurtured every day... Children practicing martial arts not only improves their health but also cultivates these skills and will.

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 recognize so-called abusive behaviors so that they can avoid them. Specifically, these are behaviors such as kissing, touching, and touching the private parts above and below. When these signs or behaviors occur, children need to be aware of reporting to adults such as their parents or teachers so that measures can be taken to support and help them stay safe.

Preventing child abuse and molestation is not the responsibility of any individual but of the whole society. Families need to be close, caring, attentive and sharing with children. Schools need to propagate and help children recognize and avoid such behavior. And the community needs to strongly fight against child sexual abuse. Legislative, judicial and executive agencies need to take strong action and strictly handle these depraved acts.

Dr., Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hai - Trong Hai and Associates Law Office

Dr., Lawyer Nguyen Trong Hai - Trong Hai and Associates Law Office. Photo: Ho Phuong

The reality of child abuse and molestation has become an alarm bell. Child abuse and molestation now not only occurs in “hidden” places, but also openly in public places with surveillance cameras. Therefore, now any environment becomes a risk of child abuse if adults are not vigilant and subjective.

This situation is partly due to the fact that the provisions of the Criminal Code on the crime of child molestation against people under 16 years of age are not clear; there is no clear definition of what is child molestation as well as inconsistent understanding. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine evidence, many cases of child molestation cannot be handled legally due to lack of evidence. This is a legal loophole.

Meanwhile, on the victims' side - they have witnessed the "light" sentences for lewd acts (the highest is 12 years in prison - Article 146 of the Penal Code) becoming a hindrance, not wanting to bring the matter to court but accepting the compromise option with the offender.

Penalties for child molestation should be increased. Photo: Internet

Specifically, the Child Care and Protection Law has sections dealing with child abusers, including those of different ages, under 16 years old, under 13 years old. However, the punishment for child molestation is usually very light, with a maximum of 3 years in prison; for abuse, it will be more severe... Therefore, criminals also "take lightly" the sentence and have a mentality of not being afraid of the law.

One worrying thing is that the definition of "molestation" and "abuse" is currently unclear. Therefore, in many cases, molesters have "circumvented the law" to escape punishment. To prevent these acts, I think: The Government and organizations responsible for protecting children must clearly recognize the risks. The National Assembly needs to consider amending the Law, increasing the penalty many times over./.