Synopsis

Statistics on sexual exploitation in The Caribbean is usually only collected based on convictions. The idea of grooming is hardly, if ever addressed, social norms that potentially contribute are not investigated. Consequently, across the Caribbean sexual activity is occurring at younger ages due to grooming and sexual exploitation. In 2003 the World Bank’s Caribbean Youth Development Report indicated that the Caribbean has the earliest age of sexual ‘debut’ in the world, The report went on to show that many young people were being drafted into sexual behavior as early as age ten with sexual abuse being a key reason. Additionally, poverty plays an important role in a youngsters susceptibility to being groomed and potential abused. Many are exchanging sexual favors for material gain. These issues compounded with communities that turn a blind eye or victim blame and shame contributes to a catastrophic environment for young people.

A Village Destroyed aims to look at perceptions and attitudes to grooming and sexual exploitation of children with the hope of increasing understanding of some of the underlying causes that exist. The aim is that with increased awareness the region and others will make concerted effort to cultivate cultural and social norms that lead to abuse free childhoods. These can be achieved through programs and policies that focus on education of what is grooming and abuse and how to recognize grooming, increasing awareness in the society, development of preventative methods, and reduction in the associated trauma.

My personal experience of grooming, childhood sexual abuse, and incest combined with the excruciating journey of recovery while living in the Caribbean makes me the ideal author. My insight is real and allows for me to be the perfect advocate to highlight problems and possible solutions.

Sales arguments

• Belkis has a social following over 17k across Facebook and Instagram combined.
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Bank report that at 30 per 100,000 population annually, the sexual violence and murder rates in the Caribbean are higher than for any other region of the world.
• The self-reported incidence of rape or sexual assault more than doubled from 1.4 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older in 2017 to 2.7 in 2018. Based on data from the survey, it is estimated that 734,630 people were raped (threatened, attempted, or completed) in the United States in 2018.
• Ages 12-34 are the highest risk years for rape and sexual assault.3 Those age 65 and older are 92% less likely than 12-24 year olds to be a victim of rape or sexual assault, and 83% less likely than 25-49 year olds.4

Similar titles

• Unmasking Sexual Con Games: A Teens Guide to Avoiding Emotional Grooming and Dating Violence by Kathleen McGee & Laura Buddenburg (2003). Publisher: Boys Town Press; 3rd Ed edition (2003-09-25) (1656). My book may have some similarities in that it highlights the common grooming practices and how to avoid them. However, my book is different in that it address how some cultural practices set up the premise for predation, grooming and abuse and suggest how societies can break the cycles through education.
• Easy Meat: Inside Britain's Grooming Gang Scandal. Publisher: New English Review Press (March 1, 2016). this book is vaguely similar in content in that it takes a look at a specific situation and highlights a bigger problem. my book is different in that it seeks to not just highlight the problem and impact but take a look at conditions that has sustained the problem, the impact and how entire communities can be part of the solution.
• The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse. Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers (March 15, 2004). This book is similar to mine in that it highlights signs of sexual abuse, it looks at what look out for and what to do. it offers practical strategies for the protection of children. my book is different in that it delves into cultural practices create unsafe societies for children. I look at a singular threat and this book looks at many.

Audience

The reader of A Village destroyed includes all stakeholders with an interest in securing abuse free childhood for our children and ensuring they develop stable mental health. That include teachers, parents, young women, social workers, activist and government leaders. One person cannot change these systematic and cultural issues. it takes collaborative effort from all stakeholders to create safer communities for our children and young women. The biggest problem is that there are many extensive international studies done on child abuse but there are few empirical studies that have been done on sexual abuse in the Caribbean. The silence surrounding this issues is what creates a demand that the spotlight be turned on and it be addressed. Left in the dark the pain grows and the horror flourishes. Sometimes it is not how much is said about a topic that makes it most relevant. Sometimes it is the things we do not speak about that causes the most pain and the most problems. This barely spoken about topic is one that needs to be addressed for it has grown in silence for too long and in the process has lead to normalization of horrors that should not exist in civilized societies.