PEDOPHILE

PEDOPHILE

Cases of adult's sexual involment with children are on the increase in the daily newspaper. Most of the cases are both pathetic and precarious because of the psychological effects they pose on the Children involved and the unpleasantness of the experience. The prosecution of the offender is often not pursued to a logical conclusion. The children then become helpless and unprotected to further sexual assault or activities.

A. *UNDERSTANDING THE WORD ' PEDOPHILE'S*

A pedophile is an adult or older adolescent who fantasized about having sexual affairs with children. A person is considered to be a pedophile if he is sexually aroused by children or experiences sexual urges toward prepubescent children (generally under 13 yrs) for a period of at least 6 months. Pedophile are offten severely distressed by these sexual urges. They experience interpersonal difficulties with adults of opposite gender because of their irrational sexual orientation. Another name for a pedophile is child molester because a pedophile sexually abuse children, even as young as 5yrs old. Molester is a name often used for an adolescent (of about 13yrs) who is fond of touching the private parts of children of about 8yrs or below.

B. *CONSEQUENCES OF PEDOPHILIA AND CHILD MOLESTATION?*

Sexual abuse by pedophile has emotional, educational and health effects on the victims.
Children suffer trauma, which sometimes grow with them to adulthood. Children is at risk of sexually transmitted infections as well as vaginal injury among others. Sexual abuse sometimes aggravate when the victims fail to share their experiences because of the threats they receive from their abusers.

C. *WAYS OF PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL MOLESTATION.*

The first thing is prayer. Prayer is crucial for the protection and purity of children in curbing or controlling child molestation in our society.

Children should be taught to keep and respect the dignity of their body (especially genitals), they should also be informed on the consequences of sexual assault from pedophile.

The parents should sponsor and pursue effective policy against sexual molestation and also report cases of sexual abuse to appropriate authorities for prosecution.

*CLOSING REMARKS:* The parents cannot afford to fold their arms about this wicked act against children. Efforts must be made by parents  to protect children from Sexual assault even in situations where government efforts (policies) seem inadequate and ineffective.