AWARENESS IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN...

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

You took away my innocence, but you can never take away my spirit to survive.                            

                                                                   -Child sexual abuse survivor

I am concerned about the growing problem of child sexual abuse and exploitation of our children. Child sexual abuse also called child molestation is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation.

Children constitutes one of the most vulnerable groups of human populations. As a result of tender age they fall easy prey to sexual crimes. Many a times these crimes go unreported because the children fail to address these issues to their parents, guardians or state authorities because of multiple factors like mental trauma and shock, relationship with the offender, social stigma and family set up. It would not be correct to say that sexual offences against children are related to their economic status for it has been found in every strata of the society. In India, only 3 % of Child Sexual Abuse related offenses were reported to the police.

Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in sexual activities with a child (weather by asking or pressuring or by other means), indecent exposure of genitals, female nipples etc. child grooming, and child sexual exploitation, including using a child sexual exploitation, including using a child to produce child pornography.

Child sexual abuse can occur in a variety of settings, including home, school, or work (in places where child labour is common) Child marriage is one of the main form of child sexual abuse and exploitation of girls.

The effects of child sexual abuse can include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and physical injury to the child.

The latest report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that 1,49,404 cases of crime against children were registered in 2021 of which 53,874 — 36.05 per cent — were under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO)

Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest and can result in more serious and long term psychological trauma especially in the case of parental incest. To deal with the relative lack of consistent data, a 2009 metastudy from the University of Barcelona published in Clinical Psychology Review, “Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse in Community and Student Samples: A Meta-Analysis,” analysed 65 research studies across 22 countries to estimate an “overall international figure” for such abuse. The study’s findings include, an estimated 7.9% of men and 19.7% of women globally experienced sexual abuse prior to the age of 18. Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims, are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles or cousins and other acquaintances, such as friends of the family, baby sitters or the neighbors, strangers are the offenders in of child sexual abuse cases.

The American Psychological Association States that- ‘’Children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults’’, and condemns any such action by an adult.

An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior.

The POCSO Act, 2012 is a comprehensive law to provide for the protection of children from the offenses of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography...

While safeguarding the interests of the child at every stage of the judicial process by incorporating child-friendly mechanisms for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through designated special trial of offences through designated special courts. The said Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and defines different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative assault, as well as sexual harassment and pornography, and deems a sexual assault to be "aggravated" under certain circumstances, such as when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust or authority of the child, like a family member, police officer, teacher, or a doctor. People who traffic children for sexual purposes are also punishable under the provisions relating to abetment in the said Act.

Every Child is innocent save them from the fear that is a responsibility of you too…

"STOP CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE"