The Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, revealed in Parliament that five out of six children in the community face abuse. During her end-of-week address, she emphasized the urgent need for the nation to improve its efforts to safeguard children.
Kiran cited numerous studies indicating that many children who experience abuse may go on to become abusers themselves. She shared a troubling case of a 13-year-old who, after being a victim of rape at the age of six by her grandfather—who remains incarcerated—highlights the cycle of abuse.
She expressed concern that without adequate rehabilitation and support, abused children may perpetuate the cycle of violence, noting the alarming rates of abuse in the community.
Kiran pointed out the contrasting opportunities for perpetrators compared to the lasting trauma faced by victims, stating that while offenders may be granted second chances, children who suffer abuse endure lifelong psychological scars.
She emphasized the difficulties in counseling and rehabilitating infants who have faced such trauma, especially when societal, familial, and community reactions often involve blame and ostracism instead of empathy and support.
According to Kiran, every child who is abused carries the burden of that trauma throughout their life.
She called for a concerted effort to tackle these issues by developing protective measures and seeking help within the community. Kiran is collaborating with various stakeholders to raise awareness and establish protection programs, urging community organizations and agencies to work towards comprehensive, community-based solutions aimed at protecting children and reducing the incidence of child sexual abuse.