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Original poster

africa - sorry this might be a bit long

45 replies

MamaMaiasaura · 14/07/2005 00:38

I am sat here having just looked at bbc website in absolute tears. I dont even know where to begin.

I cannot believe the amount of children suffering in Africa and it seems that the world just looks on. There was a link to a story about excorcism of children and the reports had photgraphed a very obviously poorly 8 year old boy, witnessed him being abused and called authorities and then left him there.

Then another link to kids being shot in fights over water. Then another of kids starving, then there is rwanda..

This is so fucked up. I cant believe how many kids are being mistreated and nothing is being done.

Sorry for rant but completely at loss as to why this is happening and being reported on and sod all being done.

I am upset by London and upset by the awful stories in our papers like the toddler that was killed and the 10 year old girl murdered and the other girls raped.. it is all very terrible stuff. Then I ask why does it seem less 'news worthy' when there are kids gunned down in school uniforms and their parents be-headed?

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Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 14/07/2005 01:31

here and and here although when happened in uk outrage etc here

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Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 14/07/2005 01:33

'Bishop Dr Joe Aldred, chair of the Council of Black-led Churches in Birmingham, said: "The African faith community has been horrified by this case of child abuse.' on bbc uk news story and then in africa story 'On the word of a pastor or a fetish priest, children are beaten, murdered, parents jailed. Lives and families are shattered.'

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Done · 14/07/2005 01:34

maybe you should read the papers more often if that's what you believe.

I've SEEN a thief being beaten up on the street for shop lifting.

I've seen in the papers here in the UK of suspected paedophiles (child abusers) being killed or attacked.

micha26 · 14/07/2005 01:34

Awen - understand you but the outrage was about africans doing that in UK. Post me an example showing outrage about brits abusing children.

Thanks regarding the clarification about hospitals and doing time. Feel much safer now

Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 14/07/2005 01:35

did i just read that right?

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micha26 · 14/07/2005 01:36

Done - I would be very stupid if I'd believe everything what is in the papers. I've seen things just the other way around.

Whatever, lets just agree to disagree.

Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 14/07/2005 01:37

Firstly whenever a child abuse case is reported makes headline in uk.. loads of stories - did you want links?

Secondly - was that a genuine thanks for clarification? not sure how to take that.

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Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 14/07/2005 01:38

k - micha - i think i get it from last comment and wont push you any further. hope you are ok now.

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micha26 · 14/07/2005 01:42

Awen, no didn't really want the links. Am sure I can seek them out myself. Issue is actually another one: The cases reported might cause a genuine outrage, but how do we know how many percent of these cases are really reported - here and there. Pure speculation.

Done · 14/07/2005 01:44

you've seen a child abuser being beaten up on the street by the general public??? Wow

It was most definitely a shop lifter that I saw being beaten up after he tried to run out of the shop - opposite Barclays bank - not very pleasant.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4184611.stm - here's a british story of a man accused of being a paedophile being killed.

Done · 14/07/2005 01:47

oh come on - you really think the media wouldn't pounce on all the stories of people that are charged with abusing children (especially were the abuse leads to death??).

The media is always over these stories like flies - as they know the outrage it causes.

micha26 · 14/07/2005 01:49

Of course not. But how many percent of the cases do you think remain undiscovered or are not brought forward by other family members. That number is speculative.

Done · 14/07/2005 01:53

well I think you'll find if a child dies from abuse then it's put into the papers - full stop. The numbers of children KILLED by abuse is lower in the UK.

In Africa it doesn't - it's just another child killed by abuse - and if their national news don't see fit to report it - and of course it never makes the news hear.

The issue here is about why a child being abused in the UK is BIG NEWS, but a child being abused in Africa (like those poor kids in Angola) isn't it.

If you want to talk about your first post - that it's not just an African problem - no it's not - but it IS more common there.

micha26 · 14/07/2005 02:02

So, if a child, subject to abuse, doesn't die from it, we consider it a minor case. And, if this leads to a case not being discovered, then we don't have to worry? Bollocks.

In US there have been 1.7 million case of child maltreatment been under investigation in 2001 with a confirmed number of about 900,000 child victims. Although, I do not claim to have seen official numbers of the UK, but what relevance do this numbers have anyway when experts claim that they are only the tip of the iceberg?

I do not mean to belittle cases of child abuse that lead to death. But do you think that victims of sexual abuse, who have to live with that burden for the rest of their lives are better off? I don't think so.

monkeytrousers · 14/07/2005 07:58

Of course there are more cases of abuse in Africa. It's a huge continent with a population to match! The UK is just one country and is tiny in comparison. By the same token you could argue there are more cases of anything but it wouldn't stand for anything.

Also, in the UK we don't have the same crisis over resources.

I'm a bit confused about what the argument is here.

Original poster
MamaMaiasaura · 14/07/2005 12:16

think this has veered off of what i originally posted.

Mich - this isnt about what type of abuse is worse and yes there are many unreported cases worldwide. I can see this is a sensitive subject for you and yes it is hard as a survivor. The purpose of this was cos i was in tears reading stories from africa that dont seem to create the outrage that it should. It said in one of the reports that some of it is due to poveryty and that they cant afford to keep the children so to save face they say they are 'possessed'

It is about the fact that children are being abused by pople and reporters take photos and then leave.. hoping the authorities there would do something. That is not something i could do I would take the child to safety myself if i had too. THe 8 year old boy Jose died .. there is a picture of him and he is obviously very very ill. Poor mite.

My point was that what can be done to help? Why is it seen as less newsworthy by papers.. when brad pitt recovering from menegitis is on the bbc ceefax and but atrocities such as these arent.

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monkeytrousers · 14/07/2005 14:03

War reporters and photojournalists are notoriously hard-nosed Awen.

There's the infamous 'bang bang club' who captured some of the most horrific moments of inhumanity and tragedy in the last century. One of the most famous was the picture of a starving child in Ethiopia being stalked by a huge carrion bird. Controversy surrounded the photo because there was a feeding station a few hundred metres away but the photographer refused to say whether he helped the child get there or left her. I think a couple of their number have committed suicide, for whatever reason.

All abuse is an outrage, but reporters judge what's news worthy and also what the paper/tv programmes values are, or who owns them (which is the main factor most of the time).

monkeytrousers · 14/07/2005 14:04

..judge by what's news worthy, I mean

monkeytrousers · 16/07/2005 19:44

Here's a link that tells you someting about them. Don't look at the photos if you're of a nervous disposition though. They're utterly heartbreaking

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