By: Josephine Sesay

Every day, children around the world suffer the devastating effects of molestation. These young victims are robbed of their innocence, their safety, and their right to grow up free from fear. Child molestation is not just a crime; it is a violation of everything that childhood represents: freedom, play, trust, and security. This is a crisis that cannot be ignored, and it is time for society to unite in a firm, unrelenting stance against it. The government must lead the charge, because if it doesn’t, we risk allowing even more horrific crimes to fester, particularly the rampant sexual exploitation of our children, especially young girls.

When we fail to protect our children from molestation, we are essentially opening the door to more severe forms of abuse. The reality is simple: child molestation often escalates into rape and long-term exploitation. This isn’t just a theory, it’s a disturbing pattern that we see time and again. Children who suffer from molestation are at a higher risk of being victimized later in life, often trapped in a cycle of abuse that can ruin their emotional and physical well-being.

The government holds a critical role in breaking this cycle. It must be the model of accountability, offering no tolerance for those who commit such heinous crimes. Instead of merely reacting after the fact, the government should take a proactive stance, implementing stringent measures to ensure that child molestation is eradicated. This means creating and enforcing tougher laws, ensuring that offenders face maximum punishment, and holding institutions accountable for allowing such abuses to occur. Anything less than zero tolerance is unacceptable.

It is also essential that the government take responsibility for educating and empowering the public especially children, about their rights and how to protect themselves. Schools, youth organizations, and social services should be equipped with the resources to teach children about healthy relationships, boundaries, and how to speak up when they feel unsafe. These programs should be mandatory, not optional, and the curriculum should be updated regularly to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.

But education alone is not enough. We need stronger enforcement. Law enforcement agencies must be better equipped to investigate child molestation cases swiftly and thoroughly, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and that victims receive the support they need to recover. Delay in justice is another form of abuse, and the government must ensure that child victims are treated with the utmost urgency and care. Additionally, the judicial system should impose harsher sentences on those who harm children. Anything less sends the dangerous message that child molestation is somehow less important than other forms of abuse.

The role of the government in setting a societal example cannot be overstated. Public officials should be the first to speak out against child molestation and take action to combat it. Their silence sends a dangerous message to both perpetrators and victims alike: that this issue is not as important as it should be. By being outspoken in their opposition to molestation, and by supporting comprehensive policies that protect children, government leaders can create a culture in which abuse is not tolerated, period.

However, the government’s duty does not stop at the law. It must also ensure that children who are victims of molestation are given the mental health resources and counselling they need to heal. Child abuse doesn’t just affect a child in the moment, it has long-lasting effects that can impact their future relationships, self-esteem, and mental health. The government must provide adequate resources for counselling, support groups, and mental health services for children and their families.

At the heart of all of this is a simple truth: children deserve to be children. They deserve a childhood filled with joy, not trauma. They deserve a life where they can explore, learn, and grow without the dark shadow of abuse looming over them. This is their right, and it is our duty to protect it.

The government must lead the way in ensuring that no child is ever subjected to molestation. If the government can’t make the safety of our children a top priority, then what are we doing? Every time we allow abuse to happen, we are not just failing individual children, we are failing our society as a whole. The ripple effects of molestation go beyond the victim and affect entire communities. If we want to raise a generation of confident, healthy, and happy children, we need to take decisive action.

It is time to say enough. The government must step up, take action, and be a shining example of what it means to protect children from harm. No child molestation. No excuses. No compromises. Let our children grow, laugh, and live free from the fear of abuse. They deserve nothing less.