Editorial: When the elderly harm children

HOME-ALONE tragedies happen to children left at home without adult companions.

This is a sobering lesson culled from cases of minors perishing in fires accidentally started after their parents left them for work, errands or other business.

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The distressing frequency of media reporting such tragedies must focus the attention and concern of the public and the authorities on this issue.

Yet, they must not also be blind to other hazards threatening the welfare of children.

Watch the watchers
A significant percentage of sexual assaults on children are committed by the elderly who were asked to care for them while their parents were away.

This was revealed by the Center for Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPTCSA).

According to a Jan. 31 article published in The Philippine Star, CPTCSA executive director Zeny Rosales cited that of the 9,000 cases of child abuse reported to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 2007, some 3,000 involved elderly caregivers as the abusers.

Elderly abusers accounted for 33 percent of the 2007 child abuse cases recorded by the DSWD.

The oldest offender was 80 years old, noted the CPTCSA official in the same article.

She also revealed that the profile of elderly child abusers covered relatives of the child, professionals (such as teachers, lawyers and doctors), and even respected personages like priests and pastors.

Central Luzon, particularly Angeles City, reported the highest number of assault cases involving children.

Parental vigilance

Proclamation 731 declares every second week of February as the “National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.”

Despite the financial demands of raising families, parents must not abscond from their primary responsibility to ensure their children’s protection and welfare.

“Know where your children are, who they are with, and what they are doing,” advocates the CPTCSA website (www.cptcsa.org). “Accept responsibility for their safety.”

According to CPTCSA findings, incest occurs when the elderly take advantage of the continual and prolonged absence of parents or guardians from the home.

Safeguarding children

Parents must teach their children their rights. They must earn their trust so a disturbed child will not keep secrets and confide when any person touches him or her inappropriately.

By carefully observing their child’s behavior, parents can also pick up early warning signs of abuse.

Be sensitive when a child shows discomfort in the company of an adult; has difficulty in walking or sitting; or exhibits an inappropriate knowledge of or interest in sex.

The CPTCSA website notes that assault usually begins with the abuser touching a child’s sensitive parts.

The government website advises talking about sexuality to one’s child. Age-appropriate talks can include teaching a young child a vocabulary for private parts.

Children are vulnerable to abuse because, aside from being physically unable to resist sexual harassment, they can be bribed with sweets or trinkets or easily cowed by threats.

To protect them, parents must ensure their children are not exposed to pornography through the Internet and DVDs.

Caretakers must also be told what constitutes inappropriate behavior with children.

Those violating children’s welfare must be reported to the authorities to prevent the continuation of abuse and protect other minors from the assault.