Saving our children from sexual abuse by pedophiles, child molesters and predators

IT IS deeply shocking that when her children and a niece were staying with her mother-in-law during the school holidays, an uncle asked his six-year-old niece to perform sexual acts on him.

The girl’s mother suspected that the uncle had groomed her daughter by being excessively physical with him, but she (the mother) did not take any action.

This month alone, an unemployed man was charged with 15 offences, including sexually abusing a six-year-old girl and possessing pornographic objects, while a teacher was in custody in a case of physical assault on a 12-year-old male student.

In the latest case, a school bus driver was charged with uploading videos of schoolchildren, kissing a four-year-old girl’s cheek and repeatedly observing a nine-year-old girl with sexual intent — a move that would raise a red flag for pedophilia.

Child sexual abuse, defined as sexual acts on a child by an adult, is the most common health problem facing children today – one with the most serious consequences.

In the first six months of 2024, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) recorded a total of 1,348 cases of child sexual abuse, with 641 cases divided between rape, gang rape (47), incest (127), unnatural sex (95) and sexual assault (438).

Earlier in the period 2018 to 27 November 2023, 91% (5,965) of the 6,540 cases under six categories of offences in the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 involved the physical sexual abuse of a child.

In addition, the recent report stated that 2,272 cases of child abuse were recorded from 2020 to April 2024. Studies show that child abusers and pedophiles have a high recidivism rate and are repeat offenders after imprisonment or treatment.

No permanent cure for victims

Child sexual abuse, pedophilia and child luring can start without people recognizing it, because it can be a small act in everyday life. Although pedophiles come from different socio-economic backgrounds, it can be anyone who shows similar characteristics.

Pedophiles prefer to have sex with children. They also have abnormal tastes, unnatural desires and an attraction to sexual relations to achieve pleasure with children only.

Pedophilia is not a new sex crime. What is new is the attention it is getting in the public arena in Malaysia, especially after the case of Richard Huckle who posed as a Christian missionary and freelance photographer.

Pedo started with 600,000 followers on Tiktok. It can be a great chance that you can earn your money. Ramai pengikutnya seronok lihat video-video jijik macam ini. Harap @PDRMsia boleh tangkap budak ini secepat mungkin.

photo.twitter.com/7BzFCYC4wE

— Roman Akramovich (@SyedAkramin) September 5, 2024

A groomer is someone who builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. A predator can manipulate a child into sex in just one hour, according to the Bukit Aman CID Sexual, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division.

Criminologists found that 40% of the risk of sexual abuse is explained by genetic factors (predisposition), while 2% of the risk is attributed to environmental factors (upbringing) shared by siblings, such as parental attitudes, neighborhood, and education.

Experts are also convinced that there is no permanent cure for perpetrators of child sexual abuse, especially pedophilia. Some argue that therapeutic treatment can work, but this can be challenging.

Because pedophiles are sociopaths who behave antisocially and who lack empathy or moral responsibility for their victims, the disorder is chronic and lifelong.

Crime prevention should be a priority for the police, but it should not be their sole responsibility.

Parents and caregivers need to take good care of children and monitor their online activities. They also need to dismantle the culture of shame that comes with talking about sex education by showing more empathy in the face of child sexual abuse.

Parents need to be proactive

In addition, parents should teach their children which parts of their body to touch so that they know what is safe. This way, children know what is acceptable.

Research has shown that nine out of ten perpetrators have a close bond with the mothers of their victims. Mothers of victims are particularly susceptible to abuse because of their vulnerability and trust in others.

They should be alert and responsive if an adult seems too focused on befriending a child, conduct regular checks on daycare centers and babysitters, and not allow a child to go on vacation alone or sleep with someone they cannot trust.

Certainly do not assume that someone is trustworthy because of their position, status or title, or because they work in a place where children are often present.

If you’re going to make a pun, you better pay for what you’re going to do..?

If you want to do this you can send something.. What is your mentality?..? photo.twitter.com/6Y5wPKzhvt

— JalaIMisai (@jllmisai) September 6, 2024

Parents and child abuse therapists should provide children who have been sexually abused with the support and resources to heal and recover. Additionally, experts noted that some parents of a child who has been sexually abused may also develop mental illnesses, increasing the likelihood of mental health disabilities in future generations.

In July 2024, the Internet Watch Foundation and UNICEF identified a significant and growing threat of AI (artificial intelligence) technology being misused to produce child abuse material by hiding it on the Dark Web.

Criminals and pedophiles can use AI to take a photo of a child and make it appear as if the child is naked or engaged in sexual acts or grooming online.

In addition to the intervention of parents, caregivers and experts, it is also necessary for authorities to be more proactive and two steps ahead in the fight against child sexual abuse, especially on the Dark Web. This web offers absolute confidentiality and has created an environment that facilitates child sexual abuse.

This requires law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity experts, ethical hackers and tech tools to join forces with an innovative approach to improve technology that can be used safely and prevent complex attacks related to child sexual abuse and online exploitation.

So it can only get worse if we do nothing. – Sep 12, 2024

Datuk Seri Dr Akhbar Satar is the Director and Professor of the Institute of Crime and Criminology at HELP University,

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia..

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