Abuse of boys 'largely ignored', warns World Vision

Christian humanitarian agency World Vision has warned that the abuse and exploitation of boys worldwide remains “largely ignored”.

As experts meet in Brazil for a major conference on the issue, the child-focused agency is calling on the international community to ensure that boys who are victims of sexual abuse receive the same attention and care as girls.

World Vision said that the world was generally “silent and unresponsive” in meeting the needs of boys as victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

It cited a new World Vision report into the sexual abuse of boys in Cambodia and the results of face-to-face interviews with more than 400 children and young people around the world which revealed that the abuse of boys is widespread, but not taken as seriously as abuse of girls.

“The attention to the needs of girls is well deserved,” said Laurence Gray, World Vision’s Director of Advocacy in Asia. “But the world has been largely silent and unresponsive to the needs of boys both as victims and survivors of sexual abuse.”

Mr Gray said that countries across Asia tended to regard girls as the victims of sexual abuse, while “shame and ignorance” had hidden the extent of abuse among boys. He added that governments and social bodies lacked the skills and resources to respond.

“While society expanded and improved the quality of care to girls, the abuse of boys has largely been ignored and neglected.”

World Vision said that comments made by children taking part in focus groups on the issue of trafficking and sexual exploitation revealed that boys worldwide were also at “significant risk” of sexual abuse.

“Both Thai people and foreigners buy sex,” said one focus group member. “In
some cases, a 60-year-old man pays for sex with boys as young as five years
old.”

Ruthi Hoffman Hanchett, Policy Officer for World Vision said, “The world has only really given its attention to the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the last 10 years and it has been primarily focused on girls.

“Boys suffering at the hands of molesters now cannot afford to wait another 10 years before they get the same consideration as girls. This conference in Brazil needs to be talking about how we can ensure all children get equal and appropriate help.”