Child abuse is very traumatic and a 40-year-old woman recently disclosed that she was still suffering from nightmares because her aunt had forced her into prostitution when she was 14.

"My mother was very poor and when I was 13 she sent me to live with my aunt in Kingston," the woman said.

"Many days after leaving school, I would go to my aunt's bar which was near to her house. Men who came into the bar always commented on my beauty. They were always saying I was beautiful and mature for my age.

"When I became 14, my aunt remarked that it was time I started to fend for myself because she had to fend for herself when she was my age.

get money

My aunt began introducing me to some of the men who drank at her bar, and told me that if I had affairs with them, I would get money to go to school and buy clothes.

"I was young and foolish and wanted to please my aunt. My aunt would tell me to go into a room adjoining the bar. Men would come there and sexually molest me. They gave my aunt money and she would give me some.

"I ran away from my aunt when I was 15 because I was actually getting a nervous breakdown because of the sexual abuses. I went to live with one of my mother's cousins who was very nice and kind, but I was too ashamed to tell her what my aunt had done.

I used to blame my mother for sending me to my aunt, but now that I am older I don't blame her anymore because never know my aunt did not have good moral values.

I sometimes have nightmares because of what happened to me when I was 14."

revealing my secret

"I am just revealing my secret because I want young girls forced into such situations, or are being sexually molested, to know it is not their fault.

They should not be afraid to report the matter to the police, their teachers or an adult, who will be willing to assist them in reporting the matter.

I am so happy special laws have been passed to protect our children," she said.

The Child Care and Protection Act places the onus on adults to report cases of child abuse. Your aunt was engaged in human trafficking, for which the maximum sentence under the Trafficking of Persons Act is 15 years.