In Tajikistan, most cases of sexual violence against children are committed by people in close relationships. Experts say that parents should talk to their children about sexual safety and teach the child to say “no”.
The July 4 case of rape and murder of eight-year-old Rufeida Inoyatova in Tajikistan caused a great resonance in local society.
Civic activists drafted an appeal to Rustam Emomali, speaker of the upper house of parliament. They urged him to take the investigation of this crime under his control and “promote stricter legislation on this issue, assist in the creation of services for the comprehensive rehabilitation of victims and the organization of work with the population and the prevention of sexual violence against children.
The Tajik Ministry of Justice reported that the new version of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code has increased criminal liability for sexual abuse, including of minors. But the bill has not yet been approved by parliament; the process of discussing the document has not yet been completed.
There is no official data on the extent of sexual violence against children in Tajikistan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs told CABAR.asia that there are no separate statistics on this issue.
Experts estimate that until 2020 there were relatively few reports of violence against minors in Tajikistan. During the pandemic, however, the situation worsened.
According to the authors of the appeal to Rustam Emomali, in just the first six months of 2020, 16 high-profile cases of sexual violence against minors became known through publicity in the media and on social networks.
Experts attribute the increase in cases of violence against children to the fact that during the pandemic many families were in voluntary self-isolation.
Experts estimate that 70% of cases of sexual violence against a child are committed by someone in the immediate environment: a close relative or family friend. Neighbors and school friends account for 20%, and only 10% are strangers.
Family psychologist Niso Azizova and lawyer Mutriba Alijanova talk about the problems of sexual violence against children in Tajikistan.
How to protect a child from violence?
According to psychologist Niso Azizova, children who lack attention and love from the mother and father most often become victims of violence. Therefore, the basis of the child’s safety is his trusting and warm relationship with his parents. Only then he will always be able to come up to you and inform you about whatever it is without fear of being punished, even if it’s a very sensitive topic. Talk to your children about sexual safety. Lack of or sometimes lack of correct information, especially in families where sex is taboo, means that children are simply unaware of the existence of “good” and “bad” touching. Try to explain that his body belongs only to him, and no one has the right to touch it without permission. If this happens, the child should immediately report the incident to the parent. Teach your child to say no. Due to the nature of upbringing, children are often taught to obey their elders and follow their instructions without question. However, this can be a condition that contributes to a child being victimized by an adult. Show respect to the child – this will serve as a basis for the realization of his value, self-confidence. This is the main task of parents, because it promotes the formation of a healthy self-esteem. In this case, the child feels that he or she and his or her opinion, what happens to him or her is important, and therefore, in a critical situation, he or she will definitely turn to parents, unlike those children who feel their insignificance and hide what happened because of guilt.
How do you know if a child is or has been abused?
It is important to pay attention to any changes in a child’s normal behavior. Children can react in completely different ways to what has happened to them. For example, a once calm child shows serious aggression, activity changes to passivity, apathy, sleep disturbances, severe anxiety, fears and more may be observed. Not necessarily and not always these are signs of violence, but at least, the existing stress, the causes of which should also be dealt with. The following signs require the attention of parents: – Manifestation of sexualized behavior of the child, which may be manifested in drawings or games, when the child imitates sexual intercourse with toys, other children. – The child may show dislike for any of the adults. For example, he or she does not want to be alone, sit nearby, or even get close. Fear of certain places or rooms can also manifest itself. – On the child’s body, especially in the intimate areas, there are bruises and abrasions, which the child cannot explain or refuses to do. – Regressive behavior (i.e. the behavior typical for earlier age) is shown. For example, a sharp decrease in school performance, enuresis (a disease characterized by urinary incontinence in a person), encopresis (a disease characterized by fecal incontinence). – Decreased trust in people: the previously open and trusting child “retreats into himself,” stops communicating with his peers, closes off communication with his parents. – Increased anxiety and fears, including nightmares, sleep disorders. – Adolescents may show signs of depression, antisocial behavior, suicide attempts.
What to do if a child has already been abused?
There is no need to hesitate in this case. If the child immediately told everything, the parents should go to the district prosecutor’s office at the place of the incident. Not to the internal affairs department! The on-duty prosecutor accepts the complaint and refers the rape victim for medical examination to the National Medical Center “Shifobakhsh” (better known as “Carabolo”). This is only possible if the child reported in time. If he dares to talk to his parents a month or even years later, it is much more difficult to prove rape. But there are some successful cases. Once, the family of a 17-year-old girl who was raped when she was 12 years old applied to the prosecutor’s office. The medical examination was pointless here. But the victim was able to name the address of the apartment, where everything happened, to describe its interior, the appearance of the rapist. This helped catch the criminal and put him in jail. In this case, the girl and her family were lucky, but it happens very rarely. So it is very important to be attentive to your children and build a trusting relationship with them, so they can share everything with you.
Can a child who is not a parent or guardian report abuse or make a report?
She can. But an outsider who has found out about the abuse must understand the main thing – whether there is a fact of rape and whether it will be proved accurately. Otherwise, the accused can sue him for defamation and then a criminal case will be brought against the author of the statement.
What legislation protects children from violence?
In Tajikistan, there are several legislative acts that protect the rights of children from violence. These are the laws “On Protection of the Rights of the Child,” “On the Responsibility of Parents for Educating and Raising Children,” and “On Prevention of Domestic Violence. Tajikistan has also recognized two international documents on the prevention of sexual violence against minors. These are the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Additional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. What to do if law enforcement agencies do not accept the application? Law enforcement agencies do not have the right not to accept citizens’ applications. They are obliged to accept it, consider it and respond. Often people make an oral request and leave with nothing, because the officers on duty simply do not listen to them. Therefore, it is best to write a statement. This is a document. And no one has the right to ignore it.
Where to Find Good Lawyers?
The Public Foundation “Legal Initiative”, within the framework of UNICEF projects, trains lawyers, including on issues of violence against children. “The best lawyers are on an unofficial list of the organization. The family of a child victim of violence can apply to our organization, and we will find a suitable specialist from the Union of Lawyers and pay for his services. It allows to save time and money of the citizens who appeared in a difficult life situation”, – told Mutriba Alijanova. CONTACTS: +992934187007 – Mutriba Alijanova, “Legal Initiative” Public Foundation Hotline Specialist.What to do if law enforcement agencies do not accept the application? Law enforcement agencies do not have the right not to accept citizens’ applications. They are obliged to accept it, consider it and respond. Often people make an oral request and leave with nothing, because the officers on duty simply do not listen to them. Therefore, it is best to write a statement. This is a document. And no one has the right to ignore it.
Where else can I turn to?
At the moment there are not many organizations dealing with the problems of sexual violence against children. One of them is the Legal Initiative and the NGO Korvoni Umed, which provides psychological, medical and legal assistance to victims of violence. CONTACTS: +992 55 555 53 05 – Public organization “Korvoni Umed”
What to do if the court acquits the rapist?
You can always appeal a court verdict to higher authorities. For example, to the Supreme Court. There are cases where the case was reconsidered, and the rapist was still behind bars. For example, in 2020, the Hissar court amnestied the rapist of a 12-year-old girl. After the case was made public it was sent for additional consideration.
How to help a child who has been abused and what should parents do?
When parents suspect that a child has been sexually abused, you need to follow a few rules that will make the rehabilitation process much easier later on. You need to remain calm, which is the most difficult, but at the same time creates the conditions for continuing the dialogue with the child. How the child survives the situation depends to a large extent on the parents’ reaction. Lead the dialogue openly, calmly, saying exactly what you are worried about and what suspicions you have. Under no circumstances should you use any form of accusation, even if it sounds like: “I told you…”. This is an indirect form of accusation and is unlikely to facilitate your communication. Listen carefully to the child without questioning what he or she says, even if it seems to be just a fantasy with no basis. It is advisable to talk to the child and try to find out as many details as possible, but do not interrogate or pressure, this may cause the child to become frightened and stop talking. Calm the child down by letting him understand that your attitude towards him has not changed, you love him, you are not accusing him of anything. This is an important point, because children who have been sexually abused often feel shame, guilt and fear of punishment. Seek help from professionals who can help rehabilitate the effects of sexual abuse, as well as provide you with information support on how the family can help the child get over what happened. The most important advice is to be attentive to your children, noticing changes in behavior and not ignoring signs of stress.