A child is not a toy!

The subtlety of pedophilia so close to us

Every day, she went to school at the same time. For years she followed the same route, punctually. Her family’s care could be seen in the attention given to her uniform, school supplies, hair always brushed and teeth shining. Every day her path was observed by neighbors, children, teenagers, and adults positioned at different points as she walked along cheerfully.

The route she traveled alone was always a source of joy: another school day; homework to be corrected; an activity to be carried out under the teacher’s supervision; games and snacks shared with little friends during recess; a story in the reading book; an assignment to take home. Although the teacher followed a routine, the novelty of learning motivated her during school hours. And even afterward, at home.

As the innocent student headed to school immersed in her thoughts, she could not imagine that many of those who regularly stood along her route had other intentions in mind. The joy of contact with friends and her teacher distracted the girl. Until one day, on her way home, the threat of a storm made her enter a business establishment to shelter from the rain, which was already falling heavily. That was enough to trigger a time bomb that had already been set.

One of the store’s customers was one of those people who watched her, waiting for the right moment to act. That moment had arrived, the moment when he would lure the child by offering protection from the storm. Taking her by the hands, he gained her trust. He offered her a toy, which she kindly accepted. The rain fell torrentially, with no indication of how much longer it would last.

Accompanying the unsuspecting girl, the out-of-season Santa Claus led her toward her home, but did not leave her at the correct address. He took her by force and suggested games that did not match the gift the child held in her hands. The toy in the child’s hands conflicted with the child who was becoming a grown-up’s plaything in the hands of a monster.

Situations like this happen before our eyes all the time. Through imprudence, carelessness, lack of information and, in some cases, even selfishness, we fail to do our part to prevent yet another child from becoming a victim of pedophilia. We need to break out of the cocoon that blinds us and look beyond ourselves. A victim of a pedophile carries the consequences for the rest of their life.

Ana Lúcia Sesso – São Paulo, March 10, 2017.