Hello :O)
Just missed it - but it sounds like it covered the kinda things from your worst nightmares :o(((
I am not sure how the UK compares with the States or the rest of Europe, but it is very disturbing to remember that in Victorian England, child prostitution was rife. The age of consent was, however, 13! Children were an economic asset at this time - they were sent up the chimnies, down the mines, out in the fields etc. at very early ages.
In the 1880's, 15% of Victorian households in London were regarded as *vicious*!
Unfortunately, paedophilia appears to be a more widespread problem than many people realise. It is often only when confronted with actual cases or when we know someone who has been abused that we come to realise this. It is a subject which has traditionally been *hushed up*, especially when child abuse has occurred within a family. Children have too often, imo, been frightened to speak out for fear of the ramifications.
The *paedophile* cunningly preys on that fear and reluctance on the part of the victim to report, whilst themselves maintaining a credible exterior of being above reproach.
I know of a case in the UK where a known paedophile was housed in a flat directly overlooking a small park which served an area where there were many small children. One little boy alerted his mother to a flashing light from one window overlooking the park and what appeared to be binoculars. The police were called and it was discovered that this person had a room full of photographs of the children in the park, and particularly of this one little boy, together with child pornography. It took a public outcry on the part of the local parents for this person to be moved, but as far as I am aware, he was not charged further nor was he *treated*, but simply moved to another area where he is no doubt continuing his activities!
It is certainly time for Silentlambs everywhere to speak out and expose this crime for what it is and for parents to realise that they do not necessarily *know* their neighbour/relation/ etc etc....
If it is true that those who are abused as children can go on to abuse others, the cycle of abuse must be broken, and the abusers must be shown that society will not tolerate such behaviour.
We must have policies in place to protect the children.
We must have procedures in place to support the victims.
Whether it is possible to re-habilitate the perpetrators seems to be uncertain.
