Let Children standup for their Rights

An American media personality,Oprah Winfrey was sexually abused at the age 9 by her own 19 year old cousin and later an elderly uncle.Oprah saw it coming and she knew how bad sexual abuse was though she kept it a secret. Joyce Meyer, a renowned evangelist and writer always gives the testimony of how she was sexually abused by her own father since the age of 6. She has only managed to talk about it and overcome sexual abuse after becoming an adult. Meanwhile, Angel Allias Mucyeshimana, an 8 year old was last year sexually abused by her step father. Mucyeshimana never reported the issue until the grandmother realized on seeing the girl very ill and having difficulty walking. This sums up to one thing; Children are not aware of their rights and they are still shy to report any injustices committed against them, especially when it comes to sexual abuse. Since time immemorial, children have been abused, but they don’t know how to handle it or they can’t trust anyone to share the experience. All around the world, children have been abused physically, emotionally and sexually just in the dark. At least, some of the stories about child abuse don’t include that the children never knew that an injustice was being done against them. The lack of courage to speak out has always helped in promoting all sorts of injustice against the children. It’s logical that children are still too young and fragile that they can barely stand on their own to defend their rights, yet it’s the very solution that can put an end to child abuse. In Rwanda, especially villages, many children are domestic laborers; others are denied their priority rights while some have been sexually harassed, but it’s all done in the dark and noticed late when things are already out of hand. Bernard Mucyo has been an errand boy for his auntie in Kinyinya – Gacyuriro for the past 3 years. His auntie brought him from the village promising to give him quality education which she never did. The little boy only lives to envy kids who have whatever it takes to be happy. “I work very hard in my auntie’s restaurant and also clear the trench whenever it rains,” says Mucyo. Though he is battered at times, he hasn’t told anyone. “I know I am not enjoying my rights as a child but I fear reporting my auntie, especially to the authorities,” adds the little boy. So sad but true is the fact that children blame themselves at times for whatever bad that happens to them. This partly explains why they won’t say a thing. ‘I always wondered why it was me and kept blaming myself and promising that I won’t tell anyone about it.’ This was Joyce Meyer’s explanation on why she kept the deadly secret for such a longtime. Yes, abuse traumatizes, especially when the children are still young. It is at times too much to handle, especially sexual abuse. It is good to teach children about their rights but the most needed thing is empowering them to speak out incase they are abused. According to Jeanne Rurema, a parent and teacher in lower Kacyiru Primary, adults can always read signs of whether their children are going through stress. This is the best time for parents, guardians and teachers to empower these children. She says that adults can know if childrens are sad, happy or distant. If a child has been sexually abused, she is scared or rude to the opposite sex; there will be a change in their style of walking especially the girls. The child’s language will also become more vulgar. “If we empower and guide children on how to report abuse, they will grow up with great value for their lives and will always know what to do to help others who are still in the identical situations,” says Karitus Ineza,a pharmacist. Ineza added that children should be empowered through education, open talks with parents and adults, one on one relationship with guardians in addition to reading their signs and acting accordingly to whatever problems they have. Notably, abuse is one wound that takes long to heal. Discussing it is the only way to overcome it. There are cases where people have committed suicide just because of emotional stress about being abused. Better to empower and talk about it than losing loved ones. Ends