DAY 14 OF THE 30 DAYS CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
In commemoration of the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse – November 19
Brought to you by the Centre for Total Child Development (CTCD)

STRATEGIES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSERS

Abusers often form relationships with potential victims and their families prior to the abuse. This is called “grooming.” Grooming is a process by which an offender gradually draws a victim into a sexual relationship and maintains that relationship in secrecy. At the same time, the offender may also fill roles within the victim's family that make the offender trusted and valued.

Abusers may groom children for weeks, months, or even years— before any sexual abuse actually takes place. It usually begins with behaviors that may not even seem to be inappropriate

WHAT ARE THE GROOMING BEHAVIOURS?

Grooming behaviours include:
• Special attention, outings and gifts
• Isolating the child from others
• Filling the child's unmet needs
• Filling needs and roles within the family
• Treating the child as if he or she is older
• Gradually crossing physical boundaries, and becoming increasingly intimate/sexual
• Use of secrecy, blame, and threats to maintain control

WHAT IS THE GROOMING PROCESS?

The process for grooming children may include:

1 Befriending a child and gaining his or her trust.

2 Testing a child's boundaries through telling inappropriate jokes, backrubs, tickling, or sexual games.

3 Moving from non-sexual touching to “accidental” sexual touching. This typically happens during play so the child may not even identify it as purposeful, inappropriate touching. It is often done slowly so the child is gradually desensitized to the touch.
4 Manipulating the child to not tell anyone about what is happening. The abuser may use a child's fear, embarrassment, or guilt about what has happened. Sometimes, the abuser uses bribery, threats, or coercion.

5 Confusing the child into feeling responsible for the abuse. Children may not notice or may become confused as the contact becomes increasingly intimate and sexual.

WHAT FACTORS INCREASE A CHILD RISK TO SEXUAL ABUSE?

While no child is immune, there are child and family characteristics that significantly heighten or lower risk of sexual abuse. The following risk factors are based on reported and identified cases of abuse:

1. Family structure is the most important risk factor in child sexual abuse. Children who live with two married biological parents are at low risk for abuse. The risk increases when children live with step-parents or a single parent.

2. Children living without either parent (foster children) are 10 times more likely to be sexually abused than children that live with both biological parents. Children who live with a single parent that has a live-in partner are of the highest risk: they are 20 times more likely to be victims of child sexual abuse than children living with both biological parents.

3. Gender is also a major factor in sexual abuse. Females are five times more likely to be abused than males.

4. Age is a significant factor in sexual abuse. While there is risk for children of all ages, children are most vulnerable to abuse between the ages of 7 and 13. The median age for reported abuse is nine years old. However, more than 20% of children are sexually abused before the age of eight.

5. The risk of sexual abuse is tripled for children whose parent(s) are not in the labour force.

6. Children in low socioeconomic status households are three times as likely to be identified as a victim of child abuse.

7. Children who live in rural areas are almost two times more likely to be identified as victims of child abuse.

8. Children who witness or are the victim of other crimes are significantly more likely to be sexually abused.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT PERPETRATORS LOOK FOR IN CHILDREN THAT THEY ABUSE?

Family and acquaintance child sexual abuse perpetrators have reported that they look for specific characteristics in the children they choose to abuse. Perpetrators report that they look for passive, quiet, troubled, lonely children from single parent or broken homes. Perpetrators frequently seek out children who are particularly trusting. Find new and work proactively to establish a trusting relationship before abusing them. Not frequently, this extends to establishing a trusting relationship with the victim's family as well.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT AN ADULT MAY BE USING THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH A CHILD FOR SEXUAL REASONS?

The signs that an adult may be using their relationship with a child for sexual reasons may not be obvious. We may feel uncomfortable about the way they play with the child, or seem always to be favouring them and creating reasons for them to be alone. There may be cuase for concern about the behaviour of an adult or young person if they:

• Refuse to allow a child sufficient privacy or to make their own decisions on personal matters.
• Insist on physical affection such as kissing, hugging or wrestling even when the child clearly does not want to.
• Are overly interested in the sexual development of a child or teenager.
• Insist on time alone with a child with no interruptions.
• Spend most of their spare time with children and have little interest in spending time with people their own age.
• Regularly offer to baby-sit children for free or take children on overnight outings alone.
• Buy children expensive gifts or give them money for no apparent reason.
• Frequently walk in on children/teenagers in the bathroom.
• Treat a particular child as a favourite, making them fell 'special' compared with others in the family or group
• Pick on a particular child.

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If you know any child that is going through any form of child abuse please help the child to get help by reporting the abuse to the appropriate authority. CHILD ABUSE is all forms of physical and/or emotional maltreatment, sexual abuse, neglect, commercial or other exploitation of a child resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity.

In all actions concerning the child, his or her best interest and well-being must be given paramount consideration.

The use of a child for the purpose of begging for alms, prostitution, domestic or sexual labour, as a slave or practices similar to slavery, forced or compulsory labour or for any purpose that deprives the child of the opportunity to attend and remain in school is a crime and it attracts imprisonment for a term of 10 years.

Employing any person under 18 years as domestic help outside his home or family environment is a crime that attracts 5 years imprisonment.

Anybody who has sexual intercourse with a child less than 18 years will be convicted to imprisonment for life.

Exposing or involving a child in the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances is an offence liable to life imprisonment.

Every form of child abuse is a serious offence that is punishable by the law. Every child has the right to be free from every form of abuse.

Report any cases of child abuse to the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), your state Ministry of Women and Children Affairs or any NGO (Non-governmental Organisation) that advocates for the rights of children. If you notice any form of child abuse and you do not report, you are as guilty as the person committing the crime. Let’s join our hands to make the world a better place for children to live and grow.

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The Centre for Total Child Development, Ibadan cordially invites you to her 2021 ANNUAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION CONFERENCE and the Child Development in Nigeria Merit Award

THEME: Protecting Children, Promoting Healthy Families and Preserving Communities

FEATURES: Plenary Sessions | Workshops | Skill Seminars | Walk Against Child Abuse | Inter-School Child Abuse Awareness Competition | Award Presentations & Prize Giving

DATE: 19th November, 2021

VENUE: Oyesina Hall, Oke Bola, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

TIME: 9.00am prompt

PARTICIPANT: Students in secondary schools, voluntary organisations, religious institutions and orphanage homes, teachers, parents, children workers, and other stakeholders

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is FREE but registration is a MUST. To register please call/sms/whatsapp: 08180495451 or send email to emailtotalchild@gmail.com

SPONSORS & VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME

If you are interested in what we do, you can get involved in 3 ways:
1. Volunteer Partner: Join our vibrant team of volunteers to administer support to the children and young people coming for the Conference.
2. Resource Partner: Donate academic materials, products and other gift items to be given freely to the children and young people coming for the conference. You can also donate materials, equipment and facilities to support our cause.
3. Financial Partner: Donate fund to help us execute this Conference

Special thanks to those supporting us:
* In Service of Humanity Foundation, Lagos - @isohfoundation
* Onus Communications, Ibadan - @onuscommunications

For more information please contact:

CENTRE FOR TOTAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT
18, Anfani Road, Off Ring Road, Challenge, Ibadan
www.facebook.com/totalchilddev
www.instagram.com/totalchildev
Tel: 08180495451; 08101809463

This is informative.