I stumbled upon a film called Hard Candy a few weeks ago. Expecting nothing more from this than a complete waste of two hours of my life, I couldn't have been more wrong if I wanted to.
Aside from being the outstanding film that it is, it has one of the most poignant take home messages I've ever come across in a film with direct relevance to the youth of today.
I don't have children but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that a child is one's most honoured possession, someone that we will all guard with our life without an instant thought to the implication it has to ours. And if need be, we would all sacrifice ours in a moment to better theirs.
Sadly, not all of us feel that way. Sadly, there are people out there who are willing, indeed waiting to take advantage of innocent children subjecting them to the kind of physical and mental torment that will never leave them.
Collectively, the rest of the world calls them paedophiles. I on the other hand would like to brand them something else.
Shocking figures reported by the Home Office (to the NSPCC) revealed that 4,500 children in the UK alone had reported being raped last year.
Far be it from me to wrong the Home Office on their numbers but I have no doubt in my mind that this is a gross under-estimation of the actual number how many victims do you think remain silent from the fear of retribution, or worse still, the fear of being branded a liar?
From birth, it is drummed into us that we must avoid talking to strangers. The older I get, the more I realise that most of the time strangers are not our only concern. In fact, many of the child abuse cases coming to light are carried out by relatives or family friends.
Think of all those priests and boarding school teacher abuse cases you've heard of in recent years. I'll bet none of those were strangers to their victims.
I guess you're thinking you have nothing to worry about as we never hear of cases of Asian child sex abuse or indeed Asian abusers.
Does this mean they don't exist? Or are we, as those being harmed, too afraid to report it?
If we did, who would believe us? Call me a cynic, but I don't for a single moment think Asians are immune to this type of abuse. In fact, I know.
Currently, government representatives have been visiting the USA to consider the usefulness of the introduction of Megan's law in the UK following the conviction of Roy Whiting for the murder of Sarah Payne.
This would allow parents to have access to the names and known addresses of registered sex offenders within their community. The worry is this would impede the social integration of such individuals after their period of rehabilitation!
What's more, it was only recently decided that sex offender rehabilitation hostels would no longer be housed close to schools or parks. Surely, this goes without saying. Obviously not.
A while back, the News of the World released the addresses of various known sex offenders resulting in increased social vigilanteism, which is why Megan's law is so controversial. But if your child was under threat wouldn't you want to know?
Isn't the Government living in constant fear of a terrorist plot against them? Don't they want to know when/if they are being targeted?
Exactly the same principle, except that the people we are trying to guard are not even aware of the danger they are in. Worse still, parents are battling with an invisible enemy.
So what will it take for the government to realise that current sex offender registers are not enough for us to keep our children safe? A few thousand more cases of sex abuse?
If I had a child, I know they'd be my world and I know that if some harm came to them, I would never forgive myself.
They would after all be my responsibility and one that is not to be taken lightly.
As parents, regardless of how embarrassing it may be for us at the time, I think it is our duty to educate our children about appropriate and inappropriate touching. If this saves one child from being molested, or worse still killed, isn't it well worth the embarrassment?
As parents, we must give our children the confidence to confide in us regardless of the implications.
Like most great inventions, the internet is a wonderful thing, but like all great things, in the wrong hands it is criminal.
Because of the way society now is, there are increasing numbers of children with internet acquaintances whom they will one day inevitably meet.
As their guardians, my suggestion is for you to go along and supervise, or send an older sibling to ensure the safety of your child.
For all those young people out there, meeting someone over the internet is not wrong, but wandering off to meet someone on your own is not clever or brave.
If you think your parents will object, or if you feel like you can't tell them, take a friend.
Hell, take a few friends but never do something as dangerous as this alone. The last thing your parents want is a dead child.
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