By Thokozani Mazibuko
MBABANE – Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has highlighted the plight of girl children in society, indicating that they find themselves at the receiving end of unimaginable abuse.
The DPM in an interview with the Eswatini Sunday said that what was very disappointing, and unfortunate is that the mothers have chosen to look the other side just because the perpetrator is a breadwinner in the family.
“Our office is dealing with fathers who have the character of Goliath in the Bible. They are very heartless, and they have no shame in sexually molesting their own biological children,” pointed out the DPM.
The DPM added that it was obvious that most of the perpetrators have been abused by their parents, themselves.
“These perpetrators are angry dads who have been rooted in abuse while they were still young. It is very saddening to be a child, more especially a girl child who has no one to run to and must endure sexual abuse for the better part of her life at the hands of her parent,” said the DPM.
According to the DPM, young girls from the age of 0-11 who have survived forms of abuse at the hands of their parents are 2220.
“The survivors, infants (0-6) year old make up 957 and the (6-11) year olds making 1263 of the total survivors. This is in line with the expectation that minors would be fewer in reporting due to the nature of violence against children and limited support mechanisms in place to encourage them to report since most VAC takes place in the home environment as well as perpetuated by adult family members and relatives,” disclosed the Deputy Prime Minister.
Dladla has called for action to address the alarming rates of child abuse, particularly affecting girls. Describing the experience of many children as “very painful,”. She emphasized the need for individuals and communities to report incidents of violence against children.
“Child abuse remains a genuine issue globally, with countless young lives being scarred by physical, emotional, and sexual harm. Girls are vulnerable to such abuse, facing higher risks and enduring lasting trauma as a result,” she pointed out.
It is worth noting that Dladla’s poignant words serve as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility to protect and ensure the well-being of all children. By speaking out against violence and advocating for the rights of children, we can work towards creating a safer and more nurturing environment for the youngest members of our society.
