Red alarm rung over child sexual abuse
One in every six Vietnamese boys and one in every four girls have experienced some forms of sexual abuse. At least 5,300 of child sexual abuse cases were reported in 2011-2015.
The organization’s report showed that the average age of child sexual abuse is 9. At least 93% of the victims knew the abusers and 47% of the abusers were their relatives.
In the past, most abused children were aged 13-18, but the cases of children abused at the age of 5-13 have been reported recently.The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) reported that 5,300 child abuse cases occurred in 2011-2015 and noted the increase in the number of boys abused.
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Nguyen Trong An, former deputy head of MOLISA’s Children Care and Protection Agency, said the figure only shows the ‘cases reported’. In many cases, the victims did not report to the police or appropriate agencies for many reasons.
Meanwhile, Tran Thanh Nam, a psychologist, commented that if the world’s standard is applied in Vietnam, the number of cases to be listed as ‘sexual abuse’ would be much higher.
Sexual abuse is understood as behavior seducing, enticing and abetting children to commit sexual acts not consistent with their age. If referring to the definition, the acts of touching, hugging, caressing and touching all can be considered ‘sexual abuse’
“It is so dangerous that most Vietnamese parents think their children are ‘safe’,” Nam commented.
“People tend to justify the behaviors when using the words such as ‘teasing’ or ‘flirting’. But in fact, this must be defined as ‘abuse’,” Nam said.
Meanwhile, current laws do not comprise provisions about sanctions on the behaviors.
It is a misunderstanding about ‘sexual abuse’ which has led to serious consequences.
Nguyen Doan, an education expert, related a story that when a girl complained to her parents that she was abused by a neighbor, the parents did not believe the girl .
Warrning parents about the increasingly high number of sexual abuse cases, educators have urged classes in sex education at both school and home.
However, they still disagree about when the education should start. Some believe that it should start when children turn 3 years old. However, there is strong opposition from Vietnamese parents.
