Perceptions and Attitudes to Child Sexual Abuse in the Eastern Caribbean

Transcription

1 Perceptions and Attitudes to Child Sexual Abuse in the Eastern Caribbean (UNICEF, University of Huddersfield, Action for Children, Governments, DfID) Professor Adele Jones and Ena Trotman Jemmott

2 To gain insights into: Research objectives 1. How people define CSA 2. How childhood is understood 3. Attitudes about children s status 4. Opinions about what behaviours and social conditions contribute to CSA 5. People s experiences and personal knowledge of CSA 6. The impact and effects of CSA 7. Views about the forms of action needed (A mixed-methods study led by Caribbean specialists in each country- over 1,400 men and women from 6 countries participated; included narrative interviews with survivors)

3 Respondents presented a picture of a social problem that is escalating and has increasingly severe consequences (Psychosocial problems, family dysfunction, drug & alcohol abuse, intergenerational violence, correlation with other forms of victimisation, teen pregnancy, HIV/STIs, abortion and complications problems throughout the life-cycle at individual, family and societal levels) Scale of the Problem Child sexual abuse (vaginal, anal, digital and object penetrative and non-penetrative sexual acts; oral sex, involving children in porn, watching sexual acts) is considered a serious and extensive problem in the region

4 Main forms of CSA Intra-familial abuse (including incest) Non-family abuse Transactional sexual abuse Occurs across all communities, levels of education, social class, professional categories, religious groups Systems ineffective Lack of inter-professional working Child care staff overwhelmed Medical professionals in need of training Police seen as complicit Schools could do more Churches part of the problem but could be part of the solution Media contributing to victim blame

5 Some other worrying trends Cell phone pornography Internet abuse Issues linked to tourism Changing nature of family Abuse of boys Transactional sex between children Sexual aggression by girls CSA and natural disasters Over-sexualisation of children and its normalisation Young children engaging in or imitating sexual acts.

6 Who is vulnerable Girls are most vulnerable abuse usually starts while the child is young (often under 10) Boys are also abused a growing problem That guy is a warrior If I [as a little boy] go and say that a big man abused me, I can never walk straight in [name of village] again Men are responsible for most abuse but others contribute to the problem through complicity, silence, denial and failure to take appropriate action

7 Patriarchy, gender inequality and constructions of childhood in perpetuating CSA Embedded within systems of patriarchy and male domination are constructions of childhood and sexual-role belief attribution through which girls are perceived as objects of sexual desire that should be available to men especially once they reach puberty (Quas, et al. 2002).

8 Male focus group respondents: The bible says that when a woman goes through puberty she is ready, so if it happens at 11 she is ready Anything after 12 is lunch Once they re sitting on the toilet and feet touch the ground they are ready the case is that men have the inner tendency of finding girls sexually accessible once they have passed puberty

9 FINDINGS- 4 Role of some women... Failing to protect children Disbelieving the child Putting male partners first Minimising the harm done Physically abusing children who disclose Allowing daughters to have sex with older men for material gain Accepting pay-offs to prevent cases going to court

10 Why... Women s economic dependence on men Male authority in sexual decision making Patriarchal values that privilege assumed rights of sexual entitlement over the rights of women and children Gender-based violence The way sex is viewed in society Cyclical abuse - many mothers were victims themselves and cannot escape victimhood Internalised normalisation of sexually harmful behaviours Predatory behaviour of men who target vulnerable families

11 Gender Socialisation How we teach boys to be men and girls to be women Perpetuation of gender inequality, male privilege and power imbalances

12 Gender Socialisation- debunking myths Sexual abuse of boys not a harmless induction to manhood Sexual initiation of girls not a passage to womanhood not a right of fathers/stepfathers to be the first to have sex with their daughter The men, they the ones feeding and clothing the girls, so it gives them permission to make the way first

13 Gender Socialisation There is need to confront and not simply explain sex trading as a form of economic security for Caribbean women; to help women to see that what they model today, their daughters will do tomorrow; to assist in the creation of better economic choices for women; to craft female sexual identities based on sexual rights and not only sexual desirability or availability

14 Poor relationships between adults in the family Discordant relationship between children and parent/s Frequent changes of adult partners within household Relationships Lack of appropriate sexual boundaries History of abuse (cycle of abuse) Domestic violence Physical abuse Children required to be quiet and to know their place Children often left by themselves Lack of nurturing/protective parental role Adults regarded as always right Abuse & violence Status/care of children Adult or older child with a sexual interest in children Alcohol/drug misuse Family isolated/unsupported Financial hardship (food, clothing, rent etc.) Protective caregiver works extensive unsocial hours Environment (evenings/weekends) Poor housing which requires children and adults to share sleeping arrangements

15 SUSTAINING FACTORS: A Systems Model Officials who by inaction, denial and evasion are collusive Gender socialisation, gender inequality and genderbased violence Lack of awareness of the seriousness of effects Lack of collective outrage and community action Ineffective systems, laws and policies Women who are disempowered and complicit for various reasons Male privilege, reputation & status placed above child protection Men and youth with sexually harmful attitudes and behaviours How childhood is viewed Environment: cultural sanctioning of sex trading, social acceptance, consumerism, poverty, community violence Child Sexual Abuse Children's disempowerment

16 Limitations of dominant approaches 1. Personal safety (good/bad touch) - places responsibility on the victim 2. Criminogenic approach depends upon disclosure, reporting and effective criminal justice, treatment and rehabilitation Disclosure Reporting Investigation Prosecution Conviction CSA Action

17 to be honest, I moved into my sister s room equally for myself. I don t think he s going to follow me there Disempowerment of children A child who gives evidence has to relive the trauma. If her abuser pleads not guilty the defence lawyer will try to destroy her credibility Given the lengthy timeframe between the incident and the trial, discrepancies are highly likely, so the court applies the strict rules of criminal evidence and find s the child s testimony too unreliable to make a conviction safe so Burden of disclosure; Burden of investigation and examination Burden of testifying; Burden of sentencing Burden of family/community disapproval Burden of fear and further abuse After legislation has been proclaimed, communities and family members educated professionals trained, children taught this is a bad touch, after reassurances that it is OK to disclose and mandatory reporting systems have been followed, many children find themselves back in the place they started from and must find ways to guard the physical threshold between themselves and their abuser:

18 A Whole of Society Problem Public Health Approach Population-based approach (prevention) a substantial % age has some level of risk- a victim can be anyone as can an abuser Uses existing health infrastructure and maximises institutional capacities Primary level, e.g. health checks for infants and children, giving parents information on signs of CSA and preventing CSA (just like other childhood diseases) Secondary level, e.g. if abuse is suspected clinics can be one-stop shops with treatment and on-going specialist services (just like other diseases) Tertiary level, e.g. counselling and treatment for victims and people with a sexual interest in children (similar to HIV interventions - to prevent passing on the disease ) Different groups may have different problems targets areas of specific risk Links to child health programmes which facilitate child health & parenting skills (fathering too) from the pre-natal stage right through the child s growth and development) Uses public health surveillance systems to gather data on what causes risk, what reduces risk & what is effective

19 Child-friendly forensic evidence and support services A recorded interview with a specially trained police officer should be the only time a child has to relive the details of abuse; other professionals can watch the recording as it takes place through a live video and audio feed enabling them to determine how to best help the child & family Advice and referral for health screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Referral/support with pregnancy testing where pregnancy results from a sexual assault Child-friendly forensic medical examination by specially trained forensic pediatricians for recent assaults. Counselling and post-trial/aftercare support Independent support through criminal proceedings

20 PREVENTION & TREATMENT: A Systems Model Improved Legislation, Policy, Protocols, Systems & Practice Leadership & Interventions within the Churches Treatment for Men and Children with Harmful Sexual Behaviour Youth Participation & Advocacy Efficient and Effective Criminal Justice System Interprofessional Training Men against Sexual Exploitation & Violence Programmes Targeted action on Transactional Sexual Abuse Empowering Women & Mothers Gender-based Attitude & Behaviour Change Child-friendly Criminal Justice Procedures Support to Victims & Survivors Children Protected Family/Parent Strengthening & Responsibility