Local Interest
Child Abuse
Stu Ranger
We read about and see multiple headlines on Social Media about this subject, so much so we sometimes
get a little blasé about the subject until it happens close to home. It is an ongoing issue worldwide, defi-
nitely not just in Vietnam. Reading a recent article in TUOI TRE NEWS “A child is sexually abused every
eight hours in Vietnam” The Gender Based Violence Prevention Network (GBVNet), a network of 15
organizations working on gender and gender-based violence in Vietnam, released an announcement on
Monday to voice their concerns over the alarming increase of child abuse cases in the country.
Over 1,000 children in Vietnam become victims every year, or one child every eight hours, the GBVNet
said, quoting statistics of the Ministry of Public Security. This prompted us to review the subject further;
A headline in ABC news from Australia is also in the mainstream media; “Sex abuse royal commission:
Adults who are child molesters are often popular members of the community, and do not behave like pred-
atory monsters, a royal commission has heard.”
Kids in Ho Chi Minh City are pictured engaging in a class on how to protect themselves from abuse.
Photo: TUOI TRE NEWS
The article went on to highlight many child predators in our society are people we think are trustworthy
and generally well liked in the community at large, this is a common ploy with this type of person, gain
trust, groom your target audience and that way parents and children let their guard down. It happens in
schools, churches, families and the list goes on. By convincing others of their good intent, they debunk the
stereotype of abusers being someone who was not likeable, trustworthy or popular and often succeed in
their quest.
The impact and long term effects on the victims can lead disturbing mental anxiety, even suicide.
In January, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced Vadim Scott Benderman, a 46-year-old man from Canada,
to four years in prison for child sex abuse.
The convict, who came to Vietnam in June 2014 to work as an English teacher at a language centre in the
capital, was guilty of molesting four young boys, several times, within a period of six months.
Penalties in Vietnam have become much stricter over the last couple of years as the Government is taking
this issue very seriously, with continued support through the WTO and in cooperation with the UNICEF,
Vietnam is increasing resources to reduce such crimes being committed.
14
The MAG Vung Tau