A research has found that in Bangladesh, one in every four girl child and one in every six male child is a victim of sexual harassment.
Though boys face sexual harassment, the matter never comes out in public. Consequently, the actual number of boys who are abused is never revealed.
Psychologists say, close relatives are also responsible for the abuse of children.
“To keep children safe, guardians often control their movement, which is not the right method; this impedes proper social growth of children.”
Sometimes, children send signals about unnatural episodes in their lives, which need to be understood, contend psychologists.
At the same time, sex education based on age must be imparted.
From January this year till 15 May, the media reported the rape of ten boys which was 13 in the entire year of 2018. The result of the survey shows that most victims are below 16.
Overall, there has been an alarming rise of rape in general. Last year, 289 children faced sexual abuse while in 2019, till 15 May, the number stands at 296.
Assistant professor of the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Dr. Helal Uddin Ahmed, says: “seventy five per cent rapes or sexual molestation is perpetrated by family members.”
The common perception is that male boys cannot be abused, which is a misconception.
Dr. Helal says: “if children are given scientific sex education, they will never turn into molesters.”
Director of Child Rights Governance and Child Protection Sector of Save the Children, Abdullah Al Mamun, adds: “due to the misuse of information technology, distorted sexuality has entered into the layers of society and on the other hand, economic rat race erodes moral values. As a result, to satisfy lust, rapists are selecting relatively weaker victims.”
To prevent rape of male children, we need to break silence and come out. Also, restrictions on children should be discarded as they inhibit the natural development of a child.
Children should also be taught to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate touches, psychologists feel.