Stakeholders seek stiffer penalties for sexual abuse of children with special needs

By Kemi Yesufu

Stakeholders have called for the introduction of stiffer penalties for persons found guilty of sexually assaulting children with special needs.

The call for tougher sanctions to be meted out on individuals convicted of sexually molesting children with special needs came at the end of a one-day stakeholders meeting held in Abuja, on sexuality education for kids with special needs.

According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting held on Thursday, government at all levels must react appropriately to the spike in sexual molestation of children in different parts of the country.

The advice to government from concerned individuals including, parents and caregivers of kids with special needs, comes months after allegations of sodomy was raised by a pupil of the FCT school for the deaf. This is even as a recent case of teachers allegedly drugging and sexually abusing female students of the FCT school for the blind was reported.

Also in the communiqué signed by Director, Foundation for the Support of Children with Special Needs, Rafat Salami and Director, Ike Foundation for Autism, Francis Mohie, stakeholders stressed the need for conducting an assessment of all the inclusive and special schools to determine their effectiveness and genuineness.

This is as the communiqué emphasized the importance of developing curriculum for children with special needs, to ensure that even with inclusive education, their needs are met.

Stakeholders went further to highlight the challenges they face to include the fact that sexual abuse of children with special needs is still grossly under reported.  They also stated that parents who report sexual abuse do not have a sense of being comforted by the system as it often puts them through untold hardship.

This is as stigma and discrimination remain a big challenge, making it difficult for parents of children with special needs to bring them out and seek help for these children.

Please read communiqué bellow:

Communique reached after one day stakeholders meeting in Abuja to discuss sexuality education for children with special needs.

 

Preamble

 

 

 

The Foundation for Support of Children with Special Needs in collaboration with Ike Foundation for Autism on Thursday July 18 2019, organised a forum for parents, caregivers and guardians of children with special needs to discuss “Sexuality Education for Children with Special Needs”.

 

The discussion convened by Hajia Rafat Salami; a journalist and  mother of a child with special needs,  was led by Dr. Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, an educationist who has nearly 30 years experience in providing care for children with special needs both in Nigeria and in the U. S.

Others discussants were Mr. Francis Mohei Oko, a behavioral therapist whose specialisation has helped to provide the much needed behavioral therapy for children with special needs and Mr. Lemmy Ughegbe, a rights activist whose years of advocacy has seen him put issues of rights of special needs children on the front burner. Discussions held were aimed at equipping parents with the skills they would require to impart sexuality education on their children.

 

With the rising case of violation of children with special needs, those blessed with the responsibility of caring for them need to understand how to cope with the new reality by empowering our children and taking the necessary precaution.

 

After extensive discussions, the meeting noted that

 

1. Sexual abuse of children with special needs is still grossly under reported.

 

2. Parents of those who report sexual abuse do not have a sense of being comforted by the system as it often puts them through untold hardship.

 

3. Many schools which purport to be caring for children with special needs are terribly inefficient and regulations for establishing such schools are not being enforced.

 

4. Stigma and discrimination remain a big challenge, making it difficult for parents of children with special needs to bring them out and seek help for these children.

 

5. Cost of assessment and care remains beyond the reach of many parents.

 

6. Commended the commitment of caregivers in providing the care needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The meeting resolved the following.

 

Parents:

 

1. That parents should be vigilant on the behavioral changes in their children.

 

2. That parents should ensure that thier normal children give guidance to their siblings with special needs.

 

3. Parents were advised to establish trust with their children.

 

4. The meeting also resolved that parents should engage their children early enough on the signs and psychology of puberty.

 

5. Care givers were also advised to do a background check on therapist(s) before engaging them with the children.

 

6. Parents should discuss the issue of sexuality on a regular basis with their children.

 

7. Parents must know their rights and demand for it in health institutions and establishments.

 

8. Parents need to be extra vigilant regarding the sexuality of their children with special needs.

 

9. Women should be economically independent to have the financial requirements to go through the stages for their children’s development.

 

 

 

The meeting also called on government to:

 

1. Proffer stiffer penalty for perpetrators of abuse against children with special needs, while also asking for more diligent prosecution of reported cases;

 

2. While commending Dr. Jumai Ahmadu of the FCT call centre and indeed the FCT administration for the quick response and action on the case of the sexual abuse of a visually impaired students at the school for the blind in Jabi, Abuja, the meeting called for widening of investigation in all schools for special needs children in the FCT, and also for the Federal Government to do same across the country.

 

3. There is the need to do an assessment of all the inclusive and special schools to determine their effectiveness and genuineness.

 

4. There is also the urgent need especially as a matter of priority to develop curriculum for children with special needs to ensure that even with inclusive education, their needs are met.

 

5. The meeting called on the Federal Ministry of Education to convene a summit of all stakeholders to review special education and inclusive education policy for implementation

 

6. Educators should also start developing supplementary materials for children with special needs so that learning will easier for them and same should be forwarded to the ministry of education.

 

7. Partnership between stakeholders is fundamental in improving the skills of care givers appropriate for them.

 

8. More attention should be given to the psychological mind set of parents with children with special needs as they also need assistance to go through the process.

Signed:

Rafat Salami

Director, Foundation for the  Support of Children with Special Needs

 

Francis Mohie

Director, Ike Foundation for Autism