Breaking the silence

This NGO is commited to change the concept of society

by SHAFIQ RAHMAN

“To raise awareness for prevention of non-commercial sexual abuse of children among children, care givers (parents, teachers, family member) community & policy makers as well as all stakeholders reads the mission of the NGO called ‘Breaking the Silence”. This organization has been working since 1994 and has made itself known throughout the country by fighting against the sexual abuse of children. There are some pervert human beings molesting children and so far have managed to get away with it. There has been hardly any awareness among parents or care givers about this perversion or no efforts to protect children against such abuse.

“Breaking the Silence” (BTS) deserves credit for blowing the whistle. Meanwhile “Breaking the Silence”  has developed a platform that has been used to create awareness among both the children and the adults. The senior program coordinator of “Breaking the Silence” Roksana Sultana said, “In our country abuses seem to always mean abuses against women. That children can also be subjected to abuses is hardly understood. Even when understood, adults usually hide it in fear of humiliation and drawing social indignation. What they fail to understand that such sexual abuses might have long term effect on a child’s mental health. So, the most important task is to make adults aware before anything else and that’s exactly what BTS is doing.

It was not easy. There were troubles at every turn during the beginning. Child abuse is such an issue that even the victims tend to hide. The so-called educated society also shies away from discussing the issue and even admitting its existence. Roksana Sultana said, “Prior to the 1996 World Congress preparations were going on with special emphasis on sex exploitation and child and women trafficking. Then we raised the issue of child abuse. Many said it was a western problem . We along with the editor of fortnightly magazine Anannya decided to work on this issue.”

The problem to start working in this area is there are almost no study and very little evidence of the existence of this malice in the society. So “Breaking the Silence” published a research report on the “Non Commercial Child Abuse in Bangladesh” in 1997. Eminent journalist and development activist Afsan Chowdhury led a group of researchers into this study conducted in and around Dhaka City. Among some 50 case studies child abuse was detected in 46 cases. After the publication of this report we had a more solid ground to base what we had been saying about child abuse. We asserted that this is not a Western problem alone but our very own society  is also affected with this vice.”

Roksana Sultana recalled the assistance of Save the Children that left a room for a BTS worker at Radda MCH centre in Mirpur section no 10. This person would talk to mothers and children who came to this centre.  Roksana.  Roksana Sultana said, “After talking to them we saw that every mother is worried about child abuse and they want a solution to it. We started working in Baunia Badh at first. At present this area is a model area for us.”