Sexual abuse victims told to tell cops

By ELIZABETH VUVU
VICTIMS of sexual abuse, especially in families, have been urged to tell the police or someone they can trust quickly of what is happening to them so that it can be stopped.
East New Britain acting police commander Senior Inspector Joseph Tabali was commenting on a 60-year-old man in Kokopo district facing a charge of incest.
He was arrested over complaints lodged by his daughter relating to alleged sexual assaults.
Tabali said the daughter only recently revealed to her mother what had been happening to her over the past 14 years.
The mother in January reported the matter to the Family Sexual Violence Unit at Kokopo after she saw her daughter crying at home.
Tabali said such behaviour, which seemed prevalent in societies, must be dealt with by the law.
Tabali said he understood that shame could be one of the reasons victims did not come forward to report sexual abuse.
It could also be that victims blame themselves for what happened to them. They may also fear of the consequences of reporting such abuse.
Tabali said it was good for the victims to blame themselves for what was happening. And the victims must not feel ashamed of telling the police or someone they could trust about what was happening because it will not help them.
Tabali said there must be more awareness in the communities to assist victims of abuse to come out with confidence and report the matter.
He said more awareness done in communities in the province could help reduce crime and would also help victims to have the confidece to report to either police or someone whom they could trust.