Child Sexual Abuse: A Bitter Chocolate

When something bad happens, you have 3 choices:

You can either let it define you,

Let it destroy you,

Or you can let it strengthen you...

It is a fact that millions of girls and boys worldwide are being sexually abused within homes and outside. They are abused by families and known persons. The perpetrator can be anyone who exploits the child's vulnerability to gain sexual gratification. It involves mental, physical and emotional abuse of a child through overt and covert sexual acts, gestures and disposition - when informed consent or resistance by the child victim to such acts is not possible. It can also include activities which do not involve direct touching.

A form of child sexual abuse in India are child marriages. In Rajasthan on Akshya Tritiya day which is popularly known as the Akha Teej, hundreds of child marriages are openly performed. The sexual abuse of children not only has damaging and long-term impact on the victim, but also affects the families, communities, and society at large. Like any crime that continues to go unchecked, the sexual abuse of children- both within our homes and outside is an issue of grave concern and directly suggests the health of a society as a whole.

Protection of children from sexual offences act 2012:

• The Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years and provides protection to all children under the age of 18 years from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography.
• This is the first time that an Act has listed aspects of touch as well as non touch behavior under the ambit of sexual offences.
• The Act also provides for punishment for abatement of the offence, which is the same as for the commission of the offence. This would cover trafficking of children for sexual purposes.
• The media has been barred from disclosing the identity of the child without the permission of the Special Court.

 Break the silence 

to end sexual abuse against children !!!

It's our prime duty to protect these child victims. These children are the future of our country. Their protection is only in our hands.

Save child ! Save Future !