Beyond Survival: Healing, Protecting Child Abuse Survivors

By Tine Bello

There is no issue more monumental than the protection of children from child predation and exploitation. With millions of children affected globally by sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence, children must be shielded from harm, and their rights upheld even amidst conflict. Child Sexual Exploitation and violence against children can happen anywhere; in homes, schools, communities, and online. Often, it’s hidden in plain sight and sometimes inflicted by those the children trust most. This commemoration represents a call to action for governments, organisations, communities, and individuals to work together to protect children from exploitation and abuse and to support survivors on their journey to healing. The aim is to bring attention to the urgent need to address this pervasive and devastating violation of children’s rights worldwide.

Globally, it’s estimated that as many as 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience sexual abuse during childhood. UNICEF reports that approximately 120 million girls worldwide have experienced some form of forced sexual contact. The impact of this violence goes far beyond physical harm, resulting in great emotional and psychological trauma that can last a lifetime. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stressed that survivors of child sexual abuse are at increased risk for various health issues, including depression, anxiety, and other chronic conditions. The one solemn message in all of these is; that protecting children from sexual exploitation and supporting survivors must be a global priority.

In Nigeria, the issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse is an ongoing crisis. The National Population Commission and UNICEF have emphasised that nearly 1 in 4 Nigerian girls have experienced sexual violence before age 18. Despite these troubling figures, many cases go unreported due to cultural stigma, victim-blaming, and a lack of access to justice, making the true scale of the problem likely much higher. This troubling reality calls for a dedicated approach to prevention, punishment of offenders, and survivor support within Nigeria.

The risks of child sexual exploitation are heightened in emergency contexts, such as conflicts, terrorism, natural disasters, and displacement crises, which are all too familiar in certain parts of Nigeria. The insurgency in the Northeast, for example, has created a situation where women and children, often displaced from their homes and separated from traditional support structures, are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Many children in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and conflict-affected areas have experienced or witnessed sexual violence, there are many reported and undocumented stories of such, underscoring the need for immediate action to protect these vulnerable populations.

The Nigerian government, along with civil society organisations, has made efforts to combat child sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence. However, significant gaps remain in enforcement, healing-survivor support, and public awareness. One promising initiative is the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, which criminalises various forms of abuse, including sexual violence against children. While this is a positive step, the VAPP Act has only been adopted in some Nigerian states with a few left, leaving many children in other regions unprotected by this critical law. Expanding and enforcing the VAPP Act nationwide is essential to creating a uniform protection standard for children across Nigeria. However, the VAPP Act is under review and is under threat of repeal. Another laudable legislation is the Child Rights Act (CRA). This federal law aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and serves as Nigeria’s primary legislation for child protection. It prohibits sexual abuse, child labour, and child marriage and outlines the rights of children to be protected from sexual exploitation, violence, and neglect. States are encouraged to domesticate this act, and many have done so, although some states have yet to adopt it fully.

Child victims and survivors of such crimes face long-lasting negative impacts on their physical, mental, and sexual health and development. Such trauma on children sometimes amounts to torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

On this World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence, the United Nations urges governments, civil society, faith organisations, academia, and the private sector to unite in support of survivors and to build a system that prevents abuse from occurring in the first place. This involves not only legal reforms and stringent law enforcement but also fostering public awareness, providing quality education, and breaking the stigma surrounding child sexual abuse.

Nigeria’s communities can play a pivotal role in these efforts by supporting open dialogue and education. Awareness campaigns at the grassroots level, particularly within schools, churches, and local communities, are vital for empowering children to understand their rights and speak up if they experience abuse. Additionally, community leaders, teachers, and healthcare workers must be trained to recognise signs of abuse and provide supportive resources for survivors’ care and healing. This is also a reminder of the need to bring perpetrators to account and to support survivors by providing accessible mental health services, legal aid, and safe spaces for healing. In Nigeria, where the culture of silence around sexual abuse remains a barrier to justice, breaking this silence is crucial for enabling survivors to seek help without fear of blame or discrimination.

The World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence is more than a mere annual commemoration but a call to protect every child’s right to a safe, dignified life. By addressing the cultural, legal, and systemic factors that enable child sexual exploitation, we can build a safer Nigeria, where every child is protected from harm and able to realise their potential without fear or suffering.

Let us all commit to this vision and work tirelessly to end child sexual abuse and exploitation in Nigeria and everywhere around the world.

Featured image: TVC News