Paedophilia – Part 2 of 2

As mentioned at the end of Part 1, my aim is to highlight some of the issues that surround this very sensitive subject and the dynamics that appear to be eternally in place. The result being,the issue is never tackled head-on to initiate a deterrent to the growth of interest that is apparent at the current time.

I will acknowledge that growth may be synonymous with the ability to range across the world via the inception of the Internet. Undoubtedly the global carrier for a successful link up of like minds.

First let us link with the first part of this article and take a look at what lasting effects the victim is likely to experience. Undoubtedly, the scars remain for life. The variability of reactions specific to the particular nature, or psyche of the individual.

Some will develop problems interacting with the male species and never grow up to experience normal heterosexual relationships. Others, more pragmatic and philosophical, view it from the opposite end of the spectrum and learn from the experience. They determine not to judge all men to be the same and go on to form rounded relationships in their adulthood.

However, this does not mean that they have forgotten. Neither type forgets. Both my own experience and that of others is that the scars remain. On a daily basis each experience’s moments that put one on alert and adopt certain protocol to ensure their safety…That such control, or attack is never allowed or encouraged to occur again.

These events can be something as simple as waiting for the lift/elevator, then finding that it contains just one male already travelling in it. I know that this is a daily issue I have been unable to overcome to this day. Alone with one unknown man in a confined space automatically means I let that lift go.

I have found this issue of being alone in a room, house, office…with a strange male signals ‘high alert’. It is a confronting and terrifying experience for those who have suffered at the behest of an adult in childhood.

Most conceal this fear, never talk about their experiences, but the challenge never recedes completely, ever. In summary, the stress resulting in that childhood experience, exists and is ongoing, within the abused individual and never abates.

The role of families when something of this nature comes to light is fraught with the dynamics that affects them and their place in the family, and of the family in the community. Put simply, each is protective of self and exposure of the perpetrator is secondary. A mother will want to protect her position within the family and community. This attitude predominantly extends to other members within the extended family unit. The situation for the child remains unchanged and she continues to be the victim of ongoing abuse.

More importantly, the perpetrator is allowed to continue with his heinous practice.

What happens to the child? I think the answer to that little problem is documented in Part 1. The child quickly grasps the topic is taboo and carries this edict with them out into the larger world outside.. Its never talked about or acknowledged.

Let’s take this problem a stage further and out into the political and public arena.

A current case is the drama being played out in the political arena concerning  the resurrection of a charge against Roman Polanski.

Thirty [30] years ago, whilst living in America, he was charged with the rape of a 13 year old child. Prior to attending court he left the country and since has resided in France, travelled extensively with this work, and even spends an extended period each year in Switzerland. The American judiciary has never attempted to bring him to justice during that time… until recently, when he was in Switzerland to accept a film award.

He was arrested by the Swiss, at the request of the Americans, who asked that he be returned to American to stand charge for his 30+ years old misdemeanor.

Despite the fact that, the victim now herself married, with a grown-up family, has requested that all charges be dropped. I believe this request was made known some years ago and reiterated again in the light of current events. She has stated quite clearly that she dealt with the issue many years ago, adding: She has grown up, survived, moved on and has no wish to raise the issue at this stage in her life.

However, Polanski is still held in custody in Switzerland, and, significantly, it would appear that the rights of the victim are still of no significance.

I wonder what the true dynamics are that lay behind this political move. It has nothing to do with Polanski or the child/adult concerned. Political play appears to have an unhealthy practice in recent times…to create an event involving   unsuspecting person[s] within the public arena in order to take the interest off something that they want to go unnoticed. Perhaps this public event fitted the bill… and before you ask…Yes, I am cynical. This is a ploy being used so often in politics today and seldom taken up by the media.

Abduction of very young children is increasing in occurrence across the world. A recent case is that of 5 year old Madeleine, who disappeared whilst on holiday with her parents in Portugal.

Trafficking of children and women is increasing alarmingly. This experience for a young child is too horrendous to bear thinking about. The pain of the parents will never diminish or abate. But what is important, is the police approach. They did not appear to  examine the case with open minds and explore all routes and aspects of this child’s disappearance. They came to a snap conclusion and concentrated on the parents, allowing time for the abductor/s to get away with the child.

Somewhere out there is someone or persons who are aware of what happened. Not involved, but privy to the events involving this child. Once again a member  of the public choses not to speak up. Perhaps if they had, the child would have been saved.

I have reflected on the latter point of ‘speaking up‘ frequently. This has occurred many times in my role within the crisis environment and as an individual. I have chosen, on many occasions, to report formally, or draw attention to all of the above patterns of behaviour. It is worryingly significant that on all occasions my attempts to curtail such actions has always been met with indifference and frequently with a reprimand for my inappropriate behaviour…?

I reported one man no less than three times, across a number of years. I had observed him attempting to entice little girls to go with him. This behaviour was observed in crowded public venues.  Reporting my observation to a person in authority, the child was removed to a safer place, but the perpetrator was ignored and allowed to remain!

Some years earlier, two of my friends and I was at a local cinema and experienced the same behaviour as that of the little girls mentioned above. We were eleven [11] years old.

IT WAS THE SAME MAN as mentioned above…I REPORTED HIM on this occasions as well…the outcome was the same, well not quite…

…we were moved to alternative seating, AND…The man was ignored allowing him to coolly continue his predatory behaviour…

I watched him move no less than 2 more times on that occasion. Each time to sit alongside young girls who immediately began to squirm and behave in a distressed manner.

Perpetrators feel supremely secure…I wonder why?