Mental Health

Child sexual abuse occurs worldwide, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic groups. It is far more common than you may think. Specifically, in the Caribbean, child sexual abuse appears to be a significant and growing problem.

One of the main reasons sexual abuse continues to be a significant element in these children’s lives is that it is rarely reported. According to research, 82.3% of participants agreed that reasons for underreporting include:

Globally in the last year, there has been a rise in gender-based violence connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdowns, isolation, social and economic effects, and other restrictions have increased women’s exposure to abusive partners and made it difficult for abuse victims to report abuse and seek help. Gender-based violence is rooted in dangerous patriarchy and cultural norms. These norms can fuel an attitude that enforces toxic masculinities and may lead to violence. However, gender-based violence is against women and girls and increasingly affects men and boys, especially in areas where conflicts exist.

You hear about it all the time. Victims are told that they could have done something different to prevent themselves from being victimized by their assailants. They are at fault rather than the criminal who committed the crime. Victims of sexual assault endured people saying they should have been dressed more modestly. Victims of muggings hear that they should not have been out so late at night. Victims of intimate partner violence are told that if they had just left the relationship in the first place, they would not be a victim today.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, IPV is characterized by the physical, sexual, or psychological harm that is done to a person by their partner or spouse. Intimate partner violence is perpetrated by both women and men; however, women are the primary victims of IPV. In many instances the abuse occurs behind closed doors, therefore, signs of the abuse may not be visible. IPV occurs across all socioeconomic classes, as well as within all religious and cultural backgrounds.