Over a three-week period, the Ministry of Social Development has been hosting all-day workshop sessions dealing with the sensitive subject of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).
The sessions were facilitated by Ms. Sarah Rothera on behalf of CAFCASS which stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service of the UK. Ms. Rothera was accompanied by co-facilitator, Lolita Gerald of the UK and Mr. Paul McNamara of Scotland, who is attached to the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
The informative sessions were designed to sensitize participants to the stark presence of child sexual molestation in our communities, and were created primarily to help social care workers, in particular, to be aware of the indicators that present themselves in the behaviour and practices of children who are being molested by sexual perpetrators.
The workshop highlighted the method by which the perpetrator lures the child victim into believing that he or she is being befriended for just a clear relationship social. This process, known as “grooming”, involves the perpetrator first seeking out and targeting the potential child victim, then forming a relationship by making the child feel special.
Next, the perpetrator makes the child feel that he is her/his boyfriend. He gives the child gifts, money,etc and may exhibit images of pornography to the child to cause her/him to be attracted to him (the perpetration). By this means, the perpetrator lowers the inhibitions of the child and engages into acts of sexual performance which, in time, becomes habitual.
Finally, the relationship may take on a trend of an abusive nature. It might then become violent and, though sex is still the aim of the abuser, the act of sex is now performed in an “unloving” aggressive kind of relationship. The perpetrator may cause the child to be isolated from family and friends, may threaten her/him – and even physically abuse the child victim in order to maintain control.
According to Ms. Rothera, “Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a complex form of abuse which can be difficult for those working with children to identify and assess. The indicators for child exploitation can sometimes be mistaken for normal adolescent behaviour.
“CSE requires knowledge, skills, professional curiosity and an assessment which analyses the risks factors and personal circumstances of individual children – to ensure that the signs and symptoms are interpreted correctly and the appropriate support is given.”
The sessions were of great interest to the participants who benefited from acquiring enhanced skills and knowledge in dealing more effectively with the child who may be sexually exploited.
