Child Sexual Abuse: Confronting Reality

Protection is one of the crucial needs of life. After gaining life, every child needs the protection from all evils so that they may enlighten the earth tomorrow. What they need is the utmost care and scope to grow both physically and mentally, as they are the future torch bearers.

Sufferings of children are a world phenomenon. Amongst them girl child occupies a primacy in cases of several violations. In most of the cases of sufferings female child is much affected than male child. Their development is threatened by several dangers including exploitation, abuse, neglect and social intrigue. Among these exploitations sexual abuse is one of the worst sufferings of girl children. The perpetrators even are found to be the persons having trust or domination over the girl child. With the growth of Industrialisation, globalization, Urbanisation and with the growth of literacy, the problem of girl child is not seen to be decreased.

The problem of sexual abuse of girl child is growing in number, variety and complexity. Such crimes continue unabated in many states. Records and reports reflect the level of vulnerability. But the reality is something more huge and harsh than the countable numbers. Several cases go unreported. Many victims with the string of sexual abuse are suffering in silence. The mental conditions of the victims of sexual abuse finds themselves traumatized, dejected, horrified, helpless, confused and unable to cope up with.

Indian Constitution, Legislation and a number of policies are initiated at Centre and States to protect and empower the girl child. But despite stringent laws, such crimes are continuously at increase. Both print and visual media are doing their best in portraying the stories of sexual violence. The researcher felt that this is the high time to find out the root cause of this wrong and also to think about the possible remedy to bring about some change.