Apart from labor which is commonly associated with child abuse, sexual abuse in fact is synonymous with child abuse. Child sexual abuse can be defined as the intentional carnal knowledge of a minor by an old person by force. It is a problem that has haunted the society for quite along time and it seems to stay unless something urgent is done to reverse the trend. Normally the following extracts are some of the disgusting news we read in our newspapers and other forms of media.

A 50 year-old man from Kijenge who raped an eight year old girl was yesterday jailed for eight years. He was convicted by senior principle magistrate who also ordered that he perform hard labor. The girl had been sent to a neighbor’s home at around 8.30p.m when she was confronted with the accused. He dragged the girl to a maize plantation where he defiled her. The girl was later examined by a doctor who found her uterus inflamed. The following is another extract; a 13 year-old girl told a court that a man who is married to two wives and is a father of five defiled her. The girl said the man threatened her with death if she screamed. She told the trial magistrate, that she was washing clothes at her employer’s home when the man appeared who she knows very well, approached her and asked for water to drink. But as she entered the house to fetch water for him he followed her from behind and laid her on bed by force where he raped her repeatedly.

Going by the above examples, then we can conclude that sexual abuse among our children is rife and rampant. It becomes quite hurting especially when we realize that most of the sexual abuse among children is carried out by people who are known to them or worse still their relatives and family members.

It is important that parents and teachers realize that sexual abuse of children and adolescents all too frequently begins at home and continues into the school room and play grounds in our communities. Parents, teachers and health workers need to be reminded that sexual abuse in the form of unwanted carnal knowledge can begin very early in a child’s life. Indeed, present research shows that even 4-5 years olds are subjected to such abuse. It is also clear from on going studies that when sexual abuse occurs early in life of a child, the greater is the likelihood that it will be repeated later in childhood or in adolescence. It is not only little girls who are involved in sexual abuse but also boys. Paradoxically as it may seem, there are many more reports of sexual abuse among boys at a very early age than there are for girls. It would seem that this is because small boys attract both adult female and male attention. As it has been pointed above it should be borne in mind that the most commonly reported abusers are those within the family and within the community. The young children need protection. Sadly enough the only people to guarantee this are the very people who hurt them. My question is, what causes a person with working brains to want to rob a young girl of her virginity besides abusing her? Why do some people like inflicting pain on children leaving on the victims permanent psychological scar?

Teachers are people who stand in "loco parentis" – In the place of parents and accordingly are expected to act in the interest of the children they teach in the same way as would a caring parent. However, teachers have not been left clean on this matter. Some teachers have acted beastly to the extent of molesting their young pupils sexually. Their responsibility as parents and role models has not been taken seriously. In recent months there have been a series of reports from various schools within Arusha region that significant numbers of male teachers and headmasters have been accused of having an "affairs with female students". In more legal terms this probably means that such teachers have been guilty of either indecent assault, unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor, child defilement and absolutely, forced sexual intercourse or rape. It is the duty of the ministry of education not only to interdict but also to bring this abuse to the attention of legal authorities so that proper charges can be laid and criminal action taken.

Nonetheless, our responsibility as parents, teachers and those whom the child fall under their care is to be able to ensure that our youngsters, the vulnerable 7-8 years old and the greatly at risk 12-16 years old also understand the dangers of sexual abuse. For this to happen every stakeholder in this problem should get the risk message across. That is they must communicate with children and adolescents.

When talking about sexual risk or danger begin with a more general approach fro example the danger of crossing the road, the danger of swimming without a guard or the risk of driving without a license. Ask the children and adolescents to think of other risk areas and then other people that might put them to risk or be dangerous to know. Listen to their ideas and suggest other situations. For example, is it safe to accept lifts from strangers? Is it safe to walk home alone in the dark? Do not preach or moralize but stick to what is safe and unsafe. Not to what is right or wrong. Ask the youngsters what they would do in particular cases when they encounter the risk of being sexually abused. Listen to what they say. Ask them to make up their own classifications about the whole situation. Ask them also to establish their own rules about how they would respond and to whom they could report. It is hoped that those concerned will get the picture if they let the youngsters make the running and do most of the talking.

It is our duty and responsibility as a society to protect our children from these kind beastly acts committed against them.