Child Abuse: Victims of Circumstance

Slumped In the corner of the room crying continuously, Fatima received several blows and kicks from her guardian. Afraid to receive more, she wiped her tears and begged for mercy. As if it was wrong to do so she received more slaps on the cheek just for a simple mistake of losing two Dalasis (D2.00) on the way from her daily shopping at the market.

At the age of Nine Fatima had the responsibility not only to clean the house but prepare food for a household of seven and take care of her younger ones. The enormity of the chores coupled with the constant snares form her cousins and beatings from her aunt, Fatima looked frail and haggard unlike a beautiful nine-year-old girl. Losing both her parents at the tender age of six, Fatima is now a victim of circumstances she never created. Is this the way orphans are expected to live? Are they not normal children with equal rights to love and protection?

Millions of children around the world live under extremely hard and difficult circumstances
as orphans, street children, child workers, youths trapped in bondage of prostitution, sexual abuse and other forms exploitation. Orphans or children with single and even sometimes those living with both parents endure persistent beatings and other degrading acts inflicted by parents, foster parents or mere guardians. Their rights are violated in cases of rape, child labour, incest, harmful traditional
practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and early marriage among others. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) article 19 (1) " State parties shall take appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent (s), legal guardian (s) or any other person who has the care of the child."

Reflecting on the words enshrined in this article one wonders why these harmful and dangerous situations of child abuse continue to exist. In most homes today innocent children have been turned into adult automatically without any chance of going through life as a child because of the terrible situation they are in.

Silently the children cry without being seen, their hearts are broken by constant abuse but they accept everything as fate and silently it goes on and on destroying their souls. In most cases children are made to believe that they are the causes of their troubles thus letting them carry the burden throughout their lives. The constant humiliation and torture slowly kills their souls, spirit and body.

Article 20 (1) of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child addresses Parental Responsibilities, which states thus:
1. Parents or other persons responsible for the child shall have the primary responsibility of upbringing and development of the child and shall have the duty to:
a) Ensure that the best interests of the child are their basic concerns at all times.
b) To secure, within their abilities and financial capacities, conditions of living necessary to the child's development and
c) To ensure that domestic discipline is administered with humanity and in a manner
consistent with the inherent dignity of the child.

The different articles in this Charter provide total protection of children. Article 21 of the same charter has provision for protection against harmful, social and cultural practices. This article outlines the role of state parties to take appropriate measures to eliminate harmful social and cultural practices affecting the welfare, dignity, normal growth and development of the child. However the reality on the ground is adverse to the provisions made in these documents signed and ratified by most countries in West Africa. Up to this day, the sad stories continue as we see millions of children engaged in employment often heavy and hazardous. Girls in particular are given away to men old enough to be their fathers, female genital mutilation is maiming and killing a lot of girls in Africa today yet little attention is paid to the need for the implementation of these conventions in our various countries. The onus therefore lies on all to fight child abuse of any nature.

It is time for children suffering quietly in homes and in the streets to speak out for their freedom. Let us as adults and young people be watchdogs in our societies, ready to unveil the dreadful acts of sick parents and cruel guardians who inflict pain on the lives of innocent children. For the children who have died, for those who have lived through detestable conditions; for those who continue to live and see their lives and souls constantly in danger, the children of a war that should make us cry more than any other, let us be ready to die for their absolute freedom if we want to make our world a better place to live in.

May we grow wise enough and have enough courage to protect them, let no child die again or suffer for lack of our love, courage or mercy.