RECENT SHOCKING news stories have painted the stark picture of child abuse. A villainous Josef Fritzl of Australia kept his daughter hostage for 24 years in the basement of his house and fathered seven children with her. It is one of the dreadful cases to have appeared in the newspapers in recent days.
Traditionally, Indians believe that sexual abuse with children is not our problem. These things exist in West but not in our country. This is a wrong notion altogether. This is because sex is considered a taboo in our society. Even in the families, it is not a worthy topic to be discussed among children. And we don’t know what is happening with the children behind our back.
The atrocity against a daughter was also repeated in India in a slightly different form. Kishor Chauhan, a business man, was arrested in Mumbai for raping his own daughter for nine years. He has been doing such a heinous crime since she was just 12-years-old. His astrologer Hasmukh Rathod had suggested him to do so to become richer. The daughter opened her mouth when astrologer forced her younger sister also.
A similar case appeared in a Singapore court few years back in which, a father was accused of raping her five teenaged daughters with the help of his multiple wives.
There are some incidents, which have defeated even shame. A two-year-old girl was raped by her neighbour in one of the Mumbai suburban areas. In a similar case, a drunken father raped her four-year-old daughter in Delhi when no one was at home. A 14 year old girl was raped and strangled to death by her home tutor in Delhi. The teacher lured his student and killed her after raping at his residence. A step-father of two girls used to rape his daughters in the absence of their mother. And, who can forget the Nithari killings of children? Nithari case was one of the worst reported cases of child abuse. These are the few examples of reported cases in the media. There could be thousand unheard cases in the society. There is no end to such terrible cases in our country.
According to the definition given by ministry of women and child welfare in a report, sexual abuse is inappropriate sexual behaviour with a child. It includes fondling a child’s genitals, making the child fondle the adult’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism and sexual exploitation. To be considered ‘child abuse’, these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of a child (for example a baby-sitter, a parent, or a day-care provider), or related to the child. If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely by the police and criminal courts.
The 2007 report on child abuse tells that more than 53 per cent children are sexually abused. And more than 70 per cent children did not report the incident to anyone. Report also reveals that 50 per cent of the abusers were known to the child. Children are sexually abused by their neighbours, teachers, and relatives and now, even by parents in few cases.
Where are children safe? These atrocities with the children are not limited to a particular stratum of the society. It is happening in low, middle and high class society. Children are vulnerable everywhere. Children often remain silent because of fear. Even if he/she speaks then it is not taken seriously or ignored to avoid ‘bad name’ to the family and child.
If the parents are silent then who would speak for the poor child? This moral question can annoy and worry any civilised person. Parents, especially mother, cannot be silent on the issue of child abuse unless she is remorseless and heartless. Parents must encourage the children to speak for anything, they feel uncomfortable. And, if child trusts the parents to share his/her problem then parents must help him/her by extending positive support.
According to a report prepared by NDTV team of doctors, in the case of child abuse, the physical force is rarely necessary because children, who seek for love and approval from elders, believe that they are always right and thus become vulnerable at the hands of such people. Parents or guardians must be vigilant towards their children since there are certain general behaviour changes that may occur in children if they are experiencing such a problem.
The behavioural change may include sleep disturbances, withdrawal from usual activities, displaying sexual knowledge, unexplained pain, swelling, urinary infections and sexually transmitted diseases. An abused child may avoid to be left alone with a particular individual. A sexually abused child may feel different emotions like fear of the abuser or of being different; anger at other adults around her who did not protect her; isolation, sadness, guilt, confusion and shame.
Parents should be vigilant and must tell the child about the difference between the ‘safe touch’ and ‘unsafe touch’. If parents can teach them societal behaviour, manners and other necessary things so why not educate them about their safety. Individuals should also take initiative against child abuse. It does not matter that child is from your family or from your neighbour’s. It is the moral responsibility of every citizen to save the vulnerable children from the hands of perpetrators.
Government should also make a separate Act to execute the convicts of child sexual abuse. In the present context, child abuse cases are handled under various section of the Indian Penal Code, which are meant for adults like Section 376, and 377. The Offences against Children Bill, 2005, is a good initiative by the government. We should make all efforts to make a protective environment for the children. As the saying goes, children are the form of god on earth. So, it is the need of the hour to save the god on earth.
