St Bernadette’s School children and volunteers during activities. Photos: Fr Tony Coney
Those of us working in the area of Child Sexual Abuse see the pain and suffering of the children affected on a daily basis, which calls us to move beyond our work within the walls of the St Bernadette’s Home to confront this reality in society through prevention, education and the detection of cases of abuse, especially those that are hidden. Sexual aggression against children effectively ends the dreams and happiness of many families in our country. Because of this, through the experience gained over the years, we are conscious of the need to intervene as quickly as possible to protect these children. Even though the scars they carry are tragic and evident, there is still a difficulty in fully understanding the problem. The government, with its National Programmes for the Protection of Children, doesn’t succeed in confronting the issue integrally and effectively. However, on the positive side, the subject of Child Sexual Abuse is growing in public awareness and how it impacts children, their families and society in general.
St. Bernadette’s Children’s Projects, as part of civil society, looks to promote a response that transcends the limits of treatment and healing within our Centre. We hope to promote a greater awareness of this problem in society and how to respond to such a reality, to promote reflection and discussion that has a multiplying effect within all the intervening social agencies, contributing to the opening of eyes to this cruel reality. Then, little by little, the silence will be broken, the myths will collapse, leaving the discovery of the secret suffering and isolation that many children are victims of.
In San Martin de Porres, Lima, where we are situated, many children face serious challenges. They deal with family violence, live in poverty, or find themselves on the streets. Some children are often left alone for long periods because their parents are not around. Others are taken care of by people who may not keep them safe. Many families lack access to social resources, and unemployment is high. There is also a problem with family isolation and a lack of support networks. These issues put children at risk and show the need for quick intervention to address the violence affecting them.
In this sense, it is necessary to develop Prevention Programmes within other organisations and educational institutions. Indeed, it’s the educational environment that offers the greatest opportunity to implement prevention programmes, given that it is a reality to which the family delegates part of its responsibility for the formation and development of their sons and daughters. The classroom offers a favourable environment to promote the spreading and reflection of the topics mentioned, lending itself to the early detection of those at risk and the realisation of preventive interventions. We in St. Bernadette’s Home understand the need to network with other groups involved in the subject to develop these Prevention and Intervention Programmes with the aim of counteracting the vulnerable conditions in which children have to live.
Columban Fr Tony Coney lives and works in Peru.
Related links
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