Daily Times

Sir: According to the dictionary, pedophilia, or paedophilia, is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents (persons aged 16 or older), typically characterised by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children (generally aged 13 years or younger, though onset of puberty may vary). Child abuse is a taboo subject to raise in any respectable society yet the evil has not spared any country. Paedophiles could be male and female both. Child molestation is quite common, mostly in families where parents are either unaware of the danger or are too unsuspecting of the world around them. Dozens of children fall prey to such immoral acts, leaving them to live a life permanently damaged, both physically and psychologically. Even religious people are found to have a desire towards children. In Pakistan and abroad, the leading cause of such offensive acts is the ignorant behaviour of parents, especially when it comes to educating their child. Parents nowadays have no time to educate their children and some of them send them for individual studies to tuition centres. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, another kind of silent predator exists — that of the maulvi saab (Quran instructor). While in no way stating that all maulvis are sexual offenders, this is an attempt to shed some light on a few of the victims of this heinous crime. The daunting fear in this appalling tragedy for children lies in notifying the parents. Sexual abuse is a severely traumatic experience, and when the abuser happens to be a person believed to be teaching faith and religion, the trauma goes exponential.

An abused child not only suffers from embarrassment but also fails to participate in life in a normal way. Parents are supposed to analyse the behavioural change of their child and report to police immediately so that these offenders do not get away easily. There is a voice in every abused child that needs support to become an action. In reality, however, it is impossible to discern the kind of impact child abuse has. Physical consequences may be damage to a child’s brain growth leading to cognitive delays or emotional difficulties. Psychological problems often manifest as high-risk behaviour. Depression and anxiety, for example, may make a person more likely to smoke, use alcohol or illicit drugs, or overreact. High-risk behaviour, in turn, can lead to long-term physical health problems such as sexually transmitted diseases, cancer and obesity.

The causes of child abuse are multi-faceted and cannot be narrowed down to a single cause. Oftentimes, there are multiple factors at play. For instance, a father may be an alcoholic and part of a family system that is caught up in a cycle of abuse that spans generations of a family. Thus, the root of child abuse could be vastly categorised but the result is often the same. A minor negligence can lead to a warranty of abnormal future. Hence, strict steps should be taken against such criminals. The police should investigate chains of paedophiles through the already filed cases. Such a concern could give hope to many lives coping with their past.

ZOHRA TAIYEB

Karachi