Most child victims of sexual abuse are under the age of 10 and 80% of this abuse is committed by family members of the victim. At least that’s what emerges from a report released by the Coalition Against Child Sexual Abuse.
Most child victims of sexual abuse are under the age of 10 and 80% of this abuse is committed by family members of the victim. At least that’s what emerges from a report released Monday by the Coalition Against Child Sexual Abuse. Noting that the phenomenon is “on the rise”, this young network advocates numerous reforms, including an overhaul of the penal code towards increased severity of penalties criminalizing such acts.
Numerous cases illustrating the phenomenon cited by the report: abuse of three 6-year-old girls by the general supervisor of a private school in Temara, abuse of another 5-year-old by a 25-year-old man in Mohammedia, abuse of another 7 year old girl by a 30 year old man in Kelaa Sraghna, rape of a 9 year old child by a 22 year old peasant in a field.
In Marrakech.
The most poignant case noted by the report concerns a 5-year-old girl who was not only raped by a man in Kelaa Sraghna, but subsequently killed.
The phenomenon stems from individuals, but also from pedophilia networks, many of which have been dismantled by the authorities, and some of which are run by foreigners. For example, the two French managers of a restaurant-bar in Marrakech which claimed about 50 victims, or the Saudis who abused around 30 young girls, including two minors. Numerous cases of pornographic film making in which minors are involved were also cited by the report.
The phenomenon is “worsening”, warns the. The number of complaints submitted to it rose from 20 in 2006 to 30 in 2007.
According to him, many factors generate the phenomenon: violations of socio-economic rights, non-severity of the law criminalizing crimes of sexual abuse of children, child prostitution, lack of a national plan for children and lack of education. on sexuality and on human rights in general.
The also advocates the mobilization of public opinion to denounce all cases of sexual abuse.
Promotion of the international convention on the rights of the child and all legislation protecting children against all forms of violence and abuse, especially sexual.
it is necessary “to set up an institution dedicated to the protection of children against sexual abuse and to adopt urgent public policies to combat and take charge of victims”.
But the existing legal arsenal does not apply properly, deplores the association “Hands off my child”, which advocates the removal of mitigating conditions and increased sentences against those involved in these crimes.
The association manager also calls for the training of judges specializing in these crimes and the acceleration of criminal proceedings.
Created on November 11, 2006, brings together around fifty Moroccan and foreign associations. Its objectives relate, among others, to three main axes, namely the strengthening of legislation on the rights of the child, in particular the criminal law to tighten the sanctions against pedophiles.
It is also a question of encouraging the governmental, administrative and judicial parties to take the necessary, adequate and above all severe measures against the culprits, and to launch a reflection on the means to possibly set up a specialized police force in this field.
Likewise, the members of the coalition aim to raise public awareness on this kind of crime, particularly at the level of schools and families.
ZNAGUI
New York @ 09/09/20
