*sensitive topic* child abuse

[tina3747]

I've just been Reading on my sky news app about the 5 people been found guilty of child sex offences. I couldn't read the whole thing,I'll sit and cry the whole night if I did.
My question is: IS it really worse in this day and age as my mum would say. She's very anti the 'world we live in' now. Adement that 'we never had paedophiles when I was young' .
Of course there were paedophiles, there always has been but IS IT REALLY WORSE???
Has the Internet played a part in people being able to have images in seconds which they may have not gained before it was invented. I'd say it was easier now to connect with others with the same agenda too.
There seems to be so much of it now, I read so many stories of sexual and physical abuse. Even a woman involved in this gang, you just don't imagine it to be a woman that can do it.
So is it just more talked about, people more willing to open up and get help if they've been abused?
I won't provide the link as some people may be offended.
Are sentences harsh enough, I see some abusers with very light sentences for first offences that enrage me. I would gods honest truth kill the person who laid a finger on my children. (shut up smelly!)

 

[Natasha2605]

I'm young (20) so I don't really know what it was like ''years ago'' so to speak. I think in those days it was a lot less spoken about. I've read a lot of books by people abused as children (in many different scenarios and situations) and one of the things which is reflected throughout most of them is that even if people WERE aware of a child being abused (neighbour maybe, etc) then they were much less likely to do anything about it for various reasons.

I'd 100% agree that the internet makes it so so much easier for child abuse (particularly distribution of child pornography and gangs) to happen, although again, I'd imagine it did happen years ago but I guess nowadays with access to everything that's available it's undoubtedly easier to organise without being caught.

I think child abuse being spoken about more openly can only be a good thing, goodness knows how many children you may pass in a day that have been subjected to abuse of some sort at some point in their life, even now it's such a taboo subject that I don't think the real figures and statistics are close to being known!

As for sentences, I won't say much because when it comes to child abuse I'm in favour of the death penalty. Says a lot for what I think of current sentencing.

Some statistics from the NSPCC website :

•One in nine young adults (11.3%) experienced contact sexual abuse during childhood.


•17,727 sexual crimes against children under 16 were recorded in England and Wales in 2010/11.

Three-quarters (72%) of sexually abused children did not tell anyone about the abuse at the time. 27% told someone later. Around a third (31%) still had not told anyone about their experience(s) by early adulthood.

 

[Lightworker]

I think its near impossible to judge whether or not it has truly increased in that, in the past, some things were never talked about, and that includes child abuse, whereas now, we are more open to discussing it. Therefore, it may well have been more, or less, just that we won't have the real figures.

In my view, the prison sentences, however long or short, do nothing to address the issue of child abuse. Most abusers were once victims themselves. Locking them up is not going to automatically rectify years of damage they have incurred. You mention whether or not enough support is given to the victim? I don't know about current victims, but the people that abuse were clearly not given any support which is why they have perpetuated the cycle of abuse. It is evident of the lack of support.

Society has a way of doing things in a very reactionary fashion, in that, when child abusers are depicted on the press, its all shock, horror, uproar (and perhaps understandably so as it illustrates the society we live in) but instead of condemning these perpetrators, if society exercised some forethought and long-sightedness, as well as looked back to spot errors, then you would know in order to tackle this problem, we shouldn't just sit and judge, we should go to great lengths to ensure these people's psychological well-being is safeguarded, as much for themselves, but also to prevent re-offending.

 

[tina3747]

What about the people who may not have been victims themselves?
I can understand the point of the vicious circle where wvictims become the abusers, I'm sure rehabilitation can help as you can tune into something that's happened to them to kind of make them realise it's wrong.
For some people, children are a sexual preference. Like I'm attracted to men, gay people are attracted to the same sex. Or even people who find being tied up and whipped sexually arousing. They are pysically attracted to children.
There's no way you can rehabilitate that kind of person.
And could you have any kind of empathy for a man or woman who has been abused then go on and do it to your own babies.
I could not.

 

[sarah0108]

I shall reply properly when i am on my laptop, but i agree with Natasha.
im all for death penalties for child abuse. Sexual and physical. I fail to see how councilling and prison sentences etc can change a person like that.

 

[Brookey]

i think the internet definately opens up a whole new world for these people. but it also opens up a trail which can enable the police to track them down.

maybe there was the same amount of peadophiles years ago but it was more sheltered then. also, there probably wasnt dedicated police teams whos job is purely to track peadophiles.

i have often wondered why computer buffs couldnt invent an alert system on all internet applicances so that as soon as someone tries to search for any indecent images, the police are alerted to their location. Maybe there already is something like that? it does make me wonder what would come up on google if i typed in "illegal porn" or "child porn". i just cant imagine that its all there for the world to see?

i dont know, im waffling now. i guess the sad fact is, there will always be peadophiles in this world. and whether they are in prison or not i dont beleive that they can ever be "cured". i really do beleive that it is a certain wiring in the brain that is just there in some people.

as for prison sentences. the prisons in this country are in no way tough enough for these people. they can serve 5 years and walk free and they will still be a peadophile. I dont think you can say "bring back the death penalty" as its just not that straightforward and i cant see it ever working but i do think something needs to be done.

 

[smelly07]

I've just been Reading on my sky news app about the 5 people been found guilty of child sex offences. I couldn't read the whole thing,I'll sit and cry the whole night if I did.
My question is: IS it really worse in this day and age as my mum would say. She's very anti the 'world we live in' now. Adement that 'we never had paedophiles when I was young' .
Of course there were paedophiles, there always has been but IS IT REALLY WORSE???
Has the Internet played a part in people being able to have images in seconds which they may have not gained before it was invented. I'd say it was easier now to connect with others with the same agenda too.
There seems to be so much of it now, I read so many stories of sexual and physical abuse. Even a woman involved in this gang, you just don't imagine it to be a woman that can do it.
So is it just more talked about, people more willing to open up and get help if they've been abused?
I won't provide the link as some people may be offended.
Are sentences harsh enough, I see some abusers with very light sentences for first offences that enrage me. !I would gods honest truth kill the person who laid a finger on my children. (shut up smelly)

That made me LOL!!!!!!!!!!

 

[smelly07]

I honestly do not believe that its worse now than ever we just hear about it more via the media and other sources that werent around back then x

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Having studied Victimology in college, I know a fair bit about child abuse (more than I'd like to really). I also interned at the US Attorney's Office when prosecuting child pornographers was at it's height.

I think that the internet has "helped," for lack of a better word, in causing more child abuse because it makes victims easily accessible. Honestly, I'm sure I could log onto any site, pretend to be a teenager, and lure a child somewhere. I think the fault of this is that parents do not monitor their children closely enough while using the internet.

I think that child abusers have always been there, but it just wasn't discussed. A child today might still even feel ashamed about what happens or not even understand it until they are older. Sadly, I've worked with child victims of sexual abuse. One of the little girls didn't even know it was wrong. She was playing with Daddy's microphone.

In regards to abusers getting the death penalty, I don't agree with that, even though I'm for the death penalty. I also disagree with that counseling won't work for offenders. I do however believe in chemical sterilization for repeat offenders.

I think the goal should be to raise more awareness with children. Parents should be teaching their children not to let anyone touch them where they wear a swimsuit or anywhere that makes them feel uncomfortable and if it happens, they should go to a teacher, parent, or any adult that they trust.

 

[JASMAK]

As awful as it is to hear about it, I am glad we do. I just hope that those who feel they can't go to authorities, find strength from those who did. It should never be tucked away, and those who have been abused should never feel ashamed.

 

[Yammas]

I agree with previous posts the internet has made it easier as you can send pictures and videos annonymously to whoever, wherever and the media makes it so we hear about it more but I dont think its anyting new or more common.

As for rehabilitation I think that if the person is determined they can at least have a try at living normally although somehow I think the attraction will always be there they can at least try to control it. However prolific offenders should be put in prison for life as I dont feel the death sentence would cover the extent of suffering the child had to endure.

 

[Maman]

i think that anyone who commits child abuse should have their testicles or ovaries removed and not be given the option of hormonal treatments. that will never happen though. i do think the problem is more prolific as the internet has made it more easy for these sickos to get away with it.