Although national child abuse prevention and sexual assault awareness month were in April, renowned Pakistani actress Nadia Jamil is recounting her child sexual abuse experience.
In a Twitter thread, the Damsa actress shared her entire childhood experience with child sexual abuse. In a brave move, she provided a timeline of events and her long healing process. She asserted the struggle and assured others how healing is possible.
“Its taken me years 2 fight deep depression,sadness,fear & a shame I had no business feeling,2b where I am now.Healed.Not just surviving but thriving.There is a way from the pain 2 peace.”
1st time I ws sexually abused I ws 4 yrs old,then 9,then 17/18.
Its taken me years 2 fight deep depression,sadness,fear & a shame I had no business feeling,2b where I am now.Healed.Not just surviving but thriving.There is a way from the pain 2 peace.
You are never alone
Love Nado pic.twitter.com/bo33Yd2brj— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) July 3, 2022
In a message for others that are still struggling to heal and feel isolated in their pain.
“You are never alone
Love Nado”
No wonder people asked for more tools to help with healing.
Nadia please explain the heal 🙏
— Dil (@SyedDildar2ky) July 3, 2022
https://twitter.com/427b237c03da43e/status/1543654389994364929
Netizens lauded her bravery for continuing to tell a painful and traumatic story to spread awareness.
You are brave enough to share your worst experience, there are millions who are afraid of telling their stories. In pakistan where laws have no values, every second child has faced sexual harassment at one stage of their lives. Brave lady, inspiration for others..
— Shehryar Khan Marri (@Shehryar_Marri) July 3, 2022
It takes great courage to be so vulnerable to this world… but you are a symbol of strength, determination and reslience! Thank you for being YOU! Thank you for inspiring… My love and prayers ❤️
— Onyx (@_BrutallySavage) July 3, 2022
Then there was all the love that poured in.
More power to you our beloved Nado
We love you for all your struggles
Keep rising & shining
Love from Khi 💐❤️🤗🧿🌹👑 pic.twitter.com/Wxyo6etgPb
— Haider_❤️ (@Haider_945) July 3, 2022
Love you Nado meri jan
— Samina Peerzada (@SaminaSays) July 3, 2022
Then there were the victim shamers. Good things Netizens stepped in to school such people.
"if it's true…" textbook definition of victim blaming
— 😶🤐 (@dr_masooma) July 4, 2022
Many remember. They might not possess the vocabulary at the time to articulate what they went through, but they remember because it is not normal.
Also, the blame of the crime must be put on the one who commits it until the others choose to ignore it.— 🛑🔥 (@mhmrmi) July 4, 2022
Oh, so true. Add the gaslighting, the what-abboutery, pleading to keep silent, choosing to ignore/avoid/gloss over.
— 🛑🔥 (@mhmrmi) July 4, 2022
Despite people like Nadia Jamil raising awareness about the matter, the matter is still kept very hush hush in Pakistan. Therefore the issue remains rampant. Given how children are more vulnerable sects of society, child sexual abuse is a sore spot for the country.
According to Sahil, an NGO working against child abuse, at least 3,852 children – 2,068 girls and 1,784 boys – were sexually abused across Pakistan in 2021. The NGO releases a report of ‘cruel numbers’ annually.
The ‘Cruel Numbers’ report estimated that some 10 children were abused every day through 2021. Acquaintances of the victim and the victim’s family topped the list of perpetrators of child sexual abuse. This is a fact affirmed by research time and time again.
With statistics showing that in at least 1,715 cases out of 3,852 cases, the abusers were acquainted with victims or the victim’s families
