Comic book illustrates stories of sexual abuse
A new publication for young people was launched today. And although it is done in a comic book format with images by one of Belize’s most popular cartoonists, Charles Chavannes III, the stories are anything but light-hearted… and might just help some teens cope with some very traumatic events in their young lives.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Torn Pages was not published to amuse the reader; instead the comic book highlights the pain and suffering experienced by children who are being sexually abused and exploited. So far this year we are not sure just how many young persons are being victimised, but if last year’s data is any indication then it is believed the situation is not good. In 2004, there were three hundred reported cases of sexual abuse and exploitation.
Karen Cain, Outreach Advocacy Coordinator, Y.E.S.
“Sexual abuse and exploitation is a painful experience. And more and more people out there are becoming more aware that this is a problem in our society and we feel that the whole reason of putting together the book too is so that young people can identify with the book and they will be able to, if they pick up this book, they will easily be able to relate to the stories within them, because it happens in their neighbourhoods, it happens in our homes, it happens countrywide.”
The publication was compiled by the young women leadership group of Youth Enhancement Services. The stories tell of incestuous relations, exploitation of daughters for monetary gain, and gang rape.
Karen Cain
“The first story that is on the cover that says “With Friends Like These”, this story is about a young girl who was at home and her boyfriend came and pick her up, but he had other friends in the vehicle and they took her on the road, got her drunk and gang raped her. So, one story is highlighting gang rape, which happens a whole lot in our society.”
In “A Family Affair” a mother finds out that the man she trusts is her worst nightmare after he stays home to watch the daughter, but the young woman is sexually abused.
Karen Cain
“And then “The Gauntlet” is about sexual harassment. All of us know that when we walk on the streets, morning, noon and night anytime of the day and young men or men on a whole would just harass you with derogatory words, with words that make you feel as a woman belittle you, right?”
“Pulling her own Weight,” tells about a mother who sold her daughter to a man for money, while “The Neighbourly Thing” illustrates a neighbour who sexually assaults a young child after the girl is left in his care. According to Y.E.S. Outreach Advocacy Coordinator Karen Cain, while they have been encouraged by certain actions taken to address the issue, there is still a lot more that needs to be done.
Karen Cain
“People are coming more and more to the forefront saying that this is happening in our community, this is happening in our home and reporting these cases, which is good because it says they are not tolerating it anymore and people are more willing to talk about it.”
“And what happened recently was a law was changed that said that a young girl can get married at fourteen with her parent’s consent, so that age bracket was raised to sixteen and Y.E.S. was very please with that because we were pushing for that to happen as well and for at least some of the laws governing sexual abuse and exploitation to be looked at and they are looking that them, so we are happy that at least some of our talks, our consultations with different partners have not fallen on deaf ears.”
Torn Pages will be issued to students, but if you would like a free copy you can contact Karen Cain at Y.E.S. at seventy-six King Street or call telephone number 227-1360. Torn Pages was funded by UNICEF and Hivos.
