Awakening to a Reality

The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is one of the most vicious crimes conceivable, a violation of mankinds most basic duty to protect the innocent. Child sexual abuse does not only have a physical but a long lasting psychological impact in the minds of the children who have been through that tough phase of life at a tender age. The sexual abuse of children is a horrible reality, and many are unaware of its extent. The Indian Constitution recognizes various crimes against children that are linked to their sexual abuse The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act that protects children below the age of 16 from being used for the purposes of commercial sex. The Juvenile Justice Act provides for punishment if a person procures a juvenile for hazardous employment. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act also makes punishable the practice of marrying girls under the age of 18 and boys under the age of 21. Child sexual abuse can take many forms, but is always a violation of a young persons rights, and increases the risk of many adverse physical and mental health conditions. An atmosphere of silence and poor communication around sexuality contributes to child sexual abuse. Research has shown that as many as 53 per cent, or one in every two children, are victims of child sexual abuse. Contrary to belief, the home is not the safest place for a child, as many abusers are trusted by the family. In addition to educating children, parents themselves need to be sensitive to their childrens signals. To say that sexual abuse is a crime is an understatement. Rather it is an insidious process that seriously undermines the psychological, emotional and social well-being of the abused. The impact can have immediate and lifelong consequences on the abused. Because of the increase in heinous crimes on children with time, the Parliament had passed the bill of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences in the year 2011 and has been enacted and brought into effect from as early as 2012. Child abuse is a problem no one really talks about. Abuse and neglect is the main cause of injury to children in the country. More children die of abuse or neglect than of natural causes. T he Act has not left any stone unturned for the protection of children from heinous offences like Child Sexual Abuse. The offence of Child Sexual Abuse has to be curtailed. Children are the future of any country and an offence like Child Sexual Abuse would disturb them and haunt them their entire life. The only reason why child abuse is alive today is because we as adults fail our children when we fail to listen to them. Listen to a child today!

Abuse changes your life...Fight Back and changes the life of your abusers by Breaking Your Silence on Abuse!

Medha Avasia Pravin Sankalp FOL-IFHE Hyderabad