REPORTS of child sexual abuse cases are on the rise.
These young victims are the most vulnerable group of people who are abused.
They need attention and they need protection, to be provided by all professionals who claim to be serving the best interests of the child.
No system of protocol has been established to help child sexual abuse victims.
How many meetings have to take place among the policy-makers, before guidelines can be established to protect these victims? How many people are suffering because there's a lack of co-ordinated effort among the relevant professionals? Is our legal system working for or against those child victims, who are so powerless when it comes to a court hearing? It is time that a conference was held involving the different professional groups and disciplines dealing with children who are abused. It is especially important for the frontline workers - those who deal directly with cases - to sit down together and work out the best plan of action to help the victims, in terms of investigation, treatment and protection.
Hong Kong is known throughout the world as a major centre of business. It is a pity that in such an economically advanced society, we are so far behind the times, and behind countries like the UK, the US and Australia, when it comes to handling child sexual abuse cases. It was reported in the press last month that an 11-member taskforce of police, welfare, medical and educational experts was to be formed to draw up guidelines for child sexual abuse inquiries.
