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There are cases where children are being abused physically, emotionally and sexually by their parents. Some fathers are known to have physically and sexually abused their daughters. Cases of sexual abuse are common among step fathers who often see their step daughters as easy prey. Some mothers are as well known to have abused their children physically and emotionally through beatings that resulted to permanent injuries, scars or deformation. It is true that sparing the rod may spoil the child, but what the child needs most is love and care, not battering.
Abused children show signs of poor health, emotional disorder and malnourishment. They are often denied the basic necessities of life, proper education and are subjected under harsh conditions. Children living in stressful conditions with little or no support may try to cope in ways that can be harmful to them or others, for example, becoming aggressive by taking drugs or alcohols.
Some girls are forced into prostitution in order to earn a living for themselves or for their mistress. Early sex experience can expose a girl to HIV/AIDS or other STD diseases. Because of her inexperience she may become pregnant at a time her body is not ready for child bearing. And this may damage her womb or her reproductive system. She may become a social misfit as nobody may want to associate with her anymore. She could die from the damage or from the shame of her condition or become a beggar on the streets.
Child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, homelessness and neglect can have negative lasting effect on the child. A child needs to be loved and cared for properly. This should not be the only responsibility of the parents but collective action involving the government; the church and other welfare organisations. Parents should be educated through public enlightenment campaigns on the importance of giving their children proper training and education. Legislation should be made against the use of under aged children as domestic helps or for child labour. A good social welfare system that could help the less privileged parents in the society to take adequate care of their children should be put in place by the government.
It is said that children are the leaders of tomorrow. But well trained and educated children of today will make good leaders of tomorrow.
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Writer Profile
EDITH
I am a Nigerian journalist presently residing in Cotonou Benin Republic. I completed my secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria.
I worked in Champion Newspapers Limited from 1992 to 1994 as a news reporter. During my stay at Champion Newspapers, I was exposed to basic newsrooms operations, including coverage of field assignments such as newsgathering and generation from beats like economy, business reporting, politics, feature and opinion writing and news monitoring on radio and television. I displayed a great amount of skill in all my assignments.
I worked with the Federal Radio Co-operation of Nigeria (FRCN) as a scriptwriter, presenter and a producer of Children’s Programme, Today’s Woman, Health Corner and Radio Drama from 1994 to 1999.
I later joined my family in Cotonou Benin Republic in 1999. Due to the love I have for my career, I did not allow it to die or sweep away. I continued from where I stop in Nigeria.
Presently I am working with Capp Fm 99.6 as a presenter in Cotonou Benin Republic. I joined Capp Fm 99.6 in October 1999. Contributing Editor Les femmes magazine South Africa.
I am a member of African Economics Editors Network (AEEN) and International Women Media Foundation (IWMF) USA.
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