It Is pathetic that victims of child sexual abuse grow up to mimic their tormentors' predation, thus reliving the "cycle of abuse". This "recyclable" centuries-long blight plaguing most societies is difficult to transparently tackle and even more complicated to prevent.
Worldwide, four per cent of children experienced sexual depredation, suffering worse than adults to unconscionable maltreatment, family assault, bullying and rape. Worse, they are sold to or abducted by sex trafficking gangs while being molested by paedophiles.
Solutions vary subtly between Western and Asian societies: the West utilises transparent activism and modern psycho-analysis, while Asians, though largely emulating the West, almost always conceal it — traditionally and stoically.
Malaysia's troubling statistics, from 2018 to 2022, stood at 18,300 child sexual cases, 16,400 cases involving incest, rape and molestation. To be sure, the government has mobilised primary initiatives to protect vulnerable victims, stop sexual exploitation and criminalise live-streaming of sex acts, extortion and online profiteering.
Crisis centres are embedded in public hospitals while national hotlines discreetly invite reports on abuses. Despite these instruments of justice, more cases go unreported, impeded by stigma, guilt, shame and ignorance of its dangers.
Hugely affected are both genders, sexual orientation, disability and socioeconomics, especially in marginalised groups and the stateless. In growing up to be abusers themselves, some abused children become the manifestation of this in-denial stoicism and failure to open up that hampers the healing process.
Victims' attempt to regain empowerment after years of trying to reverse the abuses that lead to inadequacy, insecurity and in some cases, grandiosity. They do so by perpetuating "malignant" relationships with other abusers to overcome "powerlessness", even as they "confuse" love with contempt and sexual arousal while retreating into fantasy to relieve the pain and anger.
Perhaps this is a case in point: Malaysian police's shocking discovery that religious teachers, celebrity preachers and a cult had manipulated and "groomed" victims for sexual recompense. Ultra-conservative socio-political environments combined with a dearth of quality sexual and reproductive health education counsellors are weak links in the battle against sexual abuse.
Such crimes are further aggravated by exalting arranged child marriages on the notion that it curtails casual sex and sexual immorality, and relieves family financial burden.
In battling abuses, activists brave death threats, resentment and trauma but ultimately, the government has to mandate stronger education, create receptive mechanisms for opening up and confront societal lassitude at the risk of major political blowback.
Here's a much-needed mechanism: corporations must advocate anti-child sexual abuse campaigns and literature in their environmental, social and governance frameworks for business sustainability and ethics. They have been too blasé about it.
Every nation, tradition and pop culture swear that children are their future but it is hoped that the kids aren't already damaged by the time they take over, only to repeat the vicious cycle of abuse.