Smithk Moses
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div dir=”ltr” class=”_5wjy”>When to tell Children about sexual knowledge and defilement.
Today i am going to talk about a slightly controversial issue. When to talk about sexual and reproductive health rights to children and adolescents and also about defilement.
The most alarming form of child abuse in Zambia today is defilement. Section 138 of the Penal Code of Zambia stipulates that defilement is the carnal knowledge of a child below the age of 16.
I received a phone call last week from a good friend who was asking me when can be the best time to tell hee young child who is 11years, about sexual issues because she was developing breasts. I told her, she is even late, telling children should be as soon as they are able to comprehend things, and this is why.
I remember reading a case about a child, who was defiled. And in court couldn't tell the judge what exactly the man did to her, because the mother taught her some fancy words to call her vagina and breast's. Words such as cookie, toy, rubies etc such words will make it difficult for the child even when they want to confide in someone about what is going on, because they won't know what they mean, and by the time they understand what is going on, it will be too late for the child. So please tell the children the right words about their body parts. I did mention it will be slightly controversial ???? ,but we can't leave room for any doubts what the child means.
And so it's important to create rapport with your child, cousin , sisters and brothers tell them about how if any man or woman(such cases are there) especially for the male children, touches their vagina or penis to report to you. Tell them no matter who it is you will protect them, tell them of the lies the men or women can use to silence them, or bribe them.
Let the child know of tricks that can be used against them,they are children and they need our protection. Because some have become barren or developed psychological issues and suicidal tendacies once such acts befall them.
Look at these alarming statistics below.
Last year in just 3 months 770 girls and 3 boys where defiled. We must continue to speak out and bring the culprits to book, because our girl and boy child need us to protect them and it starts by giving them knowledge.
If you won't tell them, advise and caution them, some evil people in the world will use their lack of knowledge against them and lure them into such acts.
We must also be vigilant as a community, and save children who are being defiled and abused by bringing such people, waging war on children to book.
We have organizations like "Save the children" in Zambia, who are working tirelessly to protect children.
We have "New Generation Time" an organization I am proud to be apart of, in January 2020, we took a proposal to parliament to make amendments to the law by introducing, No bail,No bond and Fast Track Court like in the case of RATSA.
Because we noticed that children, wait for a long period of time for the courts to serve justice. And the culprits usually when released on bail, they go and threaten them and their families, to drop the case.
Such acts against children cannot be won by few individuals, we must work as a team,as a community and as a nation and do our part by teaching the children and reporting the culprits.
