Dr. Shamina Aubuchon of Dominica has strengthened her voice on the topic of Child Sexual Abuse, having been a survivor herself. Aubuchon, who currently lives in Virginia USA, is a Regulatory Affairs Scientist and a strong Dominican female who has pledged to be a voice against the abuse of the vulnerable, particularly children.

Upon interview with Emonews, Aubuchon explained that she is launching her new book ‘If you touch, I’ll tell’ in May 2022. She confirmed that though she has written several scientific articles while pursuing her PhD, this is in fact her first published book. The book seeks to target children at the elementary school age and encourages them to ‘use their voice power’.

When asked what inspired her to pick up the pen, she expressed, “I am a survivor of child sexual abuse in Dominica. It happened to me by a family member, more so, my father, when I was seven up until I was fourteen years of age. The effects of abuse has traversed with me all my life. Even when I thought I was healed, certain things would trigger me like I was being tormented.”

Moreover, she highlighted that the biggest trigger would have been the birth of her daughter. “When I had my son everything was good. When I found out the second time around that I was having a girl I immediately broke down crying. Oh my God! How am I going to protect this little girl? She wasn’t even born yet and I had to worry about her,” she stated. Furthermore, she pointed out that she struggled with depression during her pregnancy and was so traumatized of natural birth that she settled for a Caesarean section.

Another thing that served as a trigger to her was the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic I was caught thinking that there are many kids who are going to be home with their abusers and it is sad and frightening,” she voiced. According to Aubuchon, 75% or more of the time, children are sexually abused by a family member or by someone within their home.

While it may be said frequently that most persons who get abused are from vulnerable or poor families, Aubuchon made mention that sexual abuse predators do not discriminate. “My father was my abuser and we were fairly well off. He was well known in society yet this happened to me,” she said.

Additionally, the fact that children are groomed to accept their abusers is indeed a living nightmare. Aubuchon voiced that she was groomed to be quiet and was told that if she spoke up she would only become “beff” in Dominica. “My father told me once ‘You talk too much. Your voice will be your detriment. It will be the reason you fall’”, she stated.

As per Aubuchon, this is why she has embarked on this journey to educate children on why their voice is important. “I want them to scream, shout, yell, fight and kick. I want them to have voice power. Many times, there is a problem in the way we raise our children. We teach them that little girls are to be seen but not heard. So then people do not hear them, they see them, they lust over them and they become only a visual,” she expressed empathetically.

She criticized the public for keeping the topic of child sexual abuse so taboo while gossiping about it when a video or sexual content is out. “We have to break from that Western upbringing. People don’t believe you when you speak out which is sad. However, I am happy that the first time I told my mother when I was fourteen, she believed me. She never questioned me to this day. She immediately responded in the way a mother ought too, to the point that she divorced my father,” she mentioned.

As such, Aubuchon explained that her experience with her mother has given her greater insight of how parents are to stand for their children. “In these circumstances, there is three words more powerful then ‘I love you” and that is ‘I believe you’. That is absolutely imperative,” she voiced.

Moreover, she took the opportunity to provide advice to the sexual abuse survivors, their parents or family and the authorities. “First, I want to say to the children who endured that burden that I am so so sorry. I encourage you to use your voice. Use your nails. Use anything to fight back,” she counseled.

In addition, she made propositions to the authorities to amend the laws relating to child sexual abuse so that children are granted greater protection. One such law is that of the age of consent which she proposes should be changed from sixteen to eighteen. Furthermore, she recommends the introduction of a Sex Offender Registry which would include a public list of all sexual offenders on island. She also advanced that the younger the child the harsher the penalty. “When you do this to a child you take away everything from them. It is time that we make examples of these abusers because if we do not break the current cycle, children will continue to live in fear,” she articulated.

Notably, Aubuchon pointed out that the book was expected to be launched in April for the Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Sexual Abuse Prevention month. However, given that the book illustrator is Ukrainian and has been impacted by the ongoing war, the release has been delayed by one month. Nonetheless, she remains excited about the publication and encourages persons to be the voice for those who are unable to stand for themselves.

Remarkably, the book will be available through all of the major book sellers like Amazon and will also be available as an e-book in future. While Aubuchon has faced her trauma bravely, she hopes that every child affected may remember and re-echo, “If you touch, I’ll tell”.