BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
MANY government social workers prefer to refer the child to a foster home if they cannot be sent home due to parental abuse. Research shows that there is more child abuse in foster homes than anywhere else.
Strictly supervised professional therapy centers that heal the emotional suffering of the child victims of human trafficking are needed and are essential in the Philippines. Sadly, there are very few therapeutic healing centers. Leaving rescued children to suffer without care, healing and justice is unethical and lacks understanding and compassion. Sending them home is just for a few weeks until they are trafficked again.
Sexual assault and rape are devastating to any person especially a child. They need protection, understanding, affirmation, support, therapy, and counseling in a peaceful location to recover and be helped to overcome the trauma and be empowered to start life anew. That is what is provided at the Preda home for abused children.
This is the psychological service and help that the senators and congressmen must consider to help abused and trafficked children.
When Girly was brought to the Preda home for girls, she was reluctant to stay. She missed her family but soon made new friends and felt welcome and affirmed. Then after two weeks, she asked to join the Emotional Release Therapy where she was able to fight back against her abuser and her aunt Daday.
Girly released all her anger, pain and feelings of hatred by shouting and confronting her abusive aunt. She punched the cushions in anger for having being abused.
At the Preda home, she became self-confident and understood her rights and dignity and was strong enough to file a legal complaint against her aunt. Then, she became more empowered and revealed that she had been raped by an uncle when she was eight years old.
She also filed a case against him. That is still pending. He had threatened to kill her parents if she told anyone. Now, she is not afraid to tell. This once shy, reserved, intimidated and fearful child was now a force to be reckoned with. She was all out to challenge and confront her abusers and win justice and she did.
Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. The human traffickers and their customers degrade and treat human beings as commodities to be bought and sold for forced labor, sexual slavery, exploitation and a life of suffering and deprivation in the power of traffickers. This we must oppose and work to free, heal and empower the child victims.
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About Preda Foundation
Preda is a registered, licensed and accredited non-government organization in the Philippines. It stands for People’s Recovery, Empowerment and Development Assistance (Preda) Foundation./PN
