Lillian Banda
10 November 2009
WHEN 15-year-old Esther (not real name) of Kapiri Mposhi was asked by a Kabwe magistrate to identify the perpetrator who had allegedly defiled her, she pointed at a prosecuting officer much to the dismay of the court.
Initially, Esther's family had sued a pastor of a named church in Kapiri Mposhi for allegedly defiling her and consequently making her pregnant.
They claimed that Esther was defiled during a crusade organised by the said church. However, Esther who is mentally retarded and pregnant has since failed to identify the perpetrator.
Child abuse and neglect has now been identified as an epidemic. Although all children are at risk, it is children with disabilities that are more vulnerable to abuse and neglect due to their physical and or mental status.
Sadly, many people have difficulties acknowledging that children with disabilities can be subjected to abuse and neglect. This has created an overstated level of vulnerability as children with disabilities and other key players are not prepared mentally or physically to educate then how to resist or respond to abuse.
Common early signs of abuse include physical injuries such as unexplained bruises, broken bones, burns, frequent unexplained injuries and aggressive or withdrawn behaviour among others.
However, for children with severe disabilities, the discovery of their abuse is often dependent on the physical signs such as pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), physical injuries and death in tragic instances.
Perpetrators include family members, teachers, caregivers and therapists among others.
Abuse in a child with a disability is not easy to notice. Even specialists providing services to children with disabilities may attribute clear signs of abuse to a disability.
This oversight has often left children with disabilities to remain in abusive situations for a long time.
On the other hand parents and teachers may have information about disabilities in general but lack information and training pertaining to physical or sexual abuse or neglect.
Children can be subjected to abuse and neglect anywhere. In homes, schools and institutions of care. Therefore, the need to empower them with knowledge on how to protect themselves and also to report cases of abuse to relevant authorities cannot be overemphasised.
While child abuse prevention programmes exist, they are rarely designed to cater for children with disabilities, their families and other key players.
This development is something that worries Temba Muimo, a goodwill ambassador for children with cerebral palsy.
Contrary to public perceptions, children with disabilities can resist abuse attempts when empowered with information and skills. They are also able to communicate their abusive experiences. This includes the mentally challenged children who suffer marginalisation to a greater extent.
It must be noted that every human being is educable. The problem is often with the way the information is packaged and later on conveyed.
The other hurdle is the reluctance of parents and caregivers to pass on this vital information and society's attitudes towards children with disabilities.
Parents, teachers and other caregivers need to educate children with disabilities how to protect themselves from abuse. In the tragic event that abuse occurs, the survivor should be counseled and encouraged to report so that the perpetrator is brought to justice" explains Temba.
He adds that given the escalating levels of child abuse in general and abuse of children with disabilities in particular it is only prudent that stakeholders ensure that the information on child abuse caters for children with special needs as well.
"Children with disabilities are entitled to all human rights that apply to all children including the right to information. As the saying goes 'information is power.'
Therefore, Government and other stakeholders should ensure that information meant to enhance the lives of children with disabilities is made available to them taking into account their various needs and categories of disabilities" Temba said.
And Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD) says persons with disabilities have continued to suffer human rights abuses because the media has not taken keen interest in disability issues and has not disseminated much information on the plight of persons with disabilities.
SAFOD director general Alexander Phiri said that the media has not done enough to educate the masses on the challenges of persons with disabilities in society.
"The human rights abuses of persons with disabilities need to be brought out to raise awareness and to compel policy makers to formulate policies that advance the rights and development of all citizens. However, the media has not done much to raise awareness on challenges of persons with disabilities," Mr Phiri said.
He revealed that SAFOD has joined other professionals in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities. We intend to invest more in issues of disability research," Mr Phiri said.
And Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA) has implored the media to cover issues of persons with disabilities comprehensively.
"The media coverage of issues of the persons with disabilities has not been satisfactory as it has not been comprehensive. To this end, persons with disabilities have continued to be marginalised because the media supposedly the voice for the voiceless, has not lived to its mandate" asserts Ms Emelda Yumbe, ZAMWA coordinator.
She adds: "Combating abuse of children with disabilities require a multi- faceted approach. In order to curb the abuse of children with disabilities and to provide effective intervention measures' specialists in areas of child development and organisations of persons with disabilities have to develop networks that will facilitate for cross referral, cross consultation and training. In this way, there will be a reduction in the risk of abuse of children with disabilities."
And Children in Need Network (CHIN) says the poor documentation of information on children with disabilities is a clear indication of the marginalisation and neglect that characterise their lives.
CHIN acting Executive Director Theresa Kabeka explains "There is not enough documentation on issues of children with disabilities. That in itself is an indication that this issue has not been given the seriousness it deserves. Despite having a National Child Policy that is intended to address children needs the implementation process has been slow.
Although all ministries are expected to play their respective roles in regard to issues of disabilities, it is the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services that is explicitly responsible for issues pertaining to persons with disabilities through the Zambia Agency For Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD), a Government institution.
ZAPD Executive Director Charles Mwape explains that ZAPD will soon be conducting awareness programmes on violence against women and children. He points out that the agency has noted with concern the continued abuse of women and children with disabilities in the country.
Dr Mwape revealed that ZAPD has partnered with five other organisations namely Zambia National Federation for the Handicapped, Zambia Federation for the Blind, Zambia Association for the Deaf, Zambia Women with Disabilities and Zambia Federation of Disability Organisations.
"As an organisation concerned with the plight of persons with disabilities, we have noted with concern that women and children with disabilities suffer gross abuse and neglect. It is for this reason that we have decided to intensify awareness programmes on gender - based violence against women and children with disabilities," Dr Mwape explains.
It is hoped that the gender-based violence awareness campaigns will be spread out even in the rural and remote parts of the country so that women and children with disabilities in these areas benefit.
It must be noted that continued violations of the rights of vulnerable groups in society is not only detrimental to persons involved but is an impediment to the realisation of the much orchestrated United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Zambia's Vision 2030 among other developmental goals.
(This article was written with support from PANOS Southern Africa)
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