| Hidden Darkness: Child Sexual Abuse in India |
|
|
| Written by Neeta Lal | |
| Wednesday, 02 May 2007 | |
|
An overwhelming number of India’s children face unwanted attention from sexual predators.
After a brilliant 16-year-old New Delhi girl repeatedly complained last month that her mathematics teacher was “touching and fondling her private parts,” the upshot was a long way from what anybody bargained for. When the girl’s parents complained, the principal called them “regressive” and blamed them for damaging the school’s reputation. The girl now stays at home to help cook and clean, her school bag lying in a locked cupboard, her scholastic career over.
The story of the girl, referred to only as Seema, is depressingly familiar, resonating across large parts of India, where abuse is a a startling everyday reality for as many as half of the country’s children, according to a just-released 13-state National Study on Child Sexual Abuse conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, UNICEF and Save The Children.
It is a long-hidden issue that India is finally beginning to wrestle with. The government moved recently to establish a National Commission for Protection of Children's Rights and plans are afoot to present an Offences Against Children (Prevention) Bill in the Parliament. The proposed document has specific sections dealing with various crimes against children, including sale/transfer, sexual assault, sexual/physical/emotional abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, child pornography, grooming for sexual purpose, incest, corporal punishment, bullying and economic exploitation.
The scale of abuse, according to the national study, is far worse than anybody had thought. It reports that 69 per cent of all Indian children are victims of physical, mental or emotional abuse, with New Delhi’s children facing an astounding abuse rate of 83.12 percent.
The survey, which involved interviews with 12,447 children, also highlights that it is usually family members (89 percent) who perpetrate such crimes and that more boys face physical abuse (72.61) than girls (65 per cent). Overall, Indian children were found to be victims of a slew of sexual crimes -- rape, sodomy, exposure to pornographic material, fondling, forcible kissing and sexual advances, among others.
The study also notes that child sexual abuse in India begins as early as five, ratchets up dramatically during pre-pubescence and peaks at 12 to 16 years. Some 21 percent of respondents acknowledged experiencing severe sexual abuse like rape, sodomy, fondling or exposure to pornographic material. Ironically, 71 per cent of sexual assault cases in India go unreported.
Nor is the study an aberration. As long ago as the mid 1990s, Samvada, a non-governmental organization in Karnataka, surveyed girls aged 15 to 21 from 11 schools and reported that 47 percent of the respondents were molested or experienced sexual overtures, 15 percent of them under the age of 10. Another 15 percent said they had experienced serious forms of sexual abuse including rape – 31 percent of that group were under the age of 10 when the abuses took place.
India is home to more than 375 million children, comprising nearly 40 percent of the country’s population, the largest number of minors in any country in the world. Despite its ethos of non-violence, tolerance, spirituality and a new trillion-dollar economy, India hosts the world's largest number of sexually abused children, at a far higher rate than any other country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four girls and one in every seven boys in the world are sexually abused, hardly encouraging, but still far below India’s totals.
Worse, child abuse is one of the least documented violations in the country, records author Grace Poore in the book, The Children We Sacrifice, which deals with the wide prevalence of child sexual abuse in India.
The reasons are manifold. In India, much like the rest of Asia, children are expected to respect and obey authority figures such as teachers, guidance counselors and principals and not question their actions. Rebellion is perceived as a sign of a bad upbringing. This sensibility perpetuates a culture of abuse by encouraging sexual predators.
Also, Indian adults often exercise a near-feudal hold over their children, demanding complete and unquestioned obedience. A culture of silence and shame also swirls around cases of sexual violence against children. Unsurprisingly, the notion of shame is the single largest culprit in perpetuating sexual violence against India’s children.
Ironically, despite the magnitude of the problem, Indian courts offer little panacea to victims. In fact the only legal recourse available to such victims is the extensions of “rape laws”, which apply to women and are stretched to apply to children as well.
But, as authorities point out, rape laws only recognize sexual crimes involving “penile penetration” and are totally dependent on medical evidence. Such evidence is difficult to procure as abuse is usually not one isolated case but a whole series of them. It may even involve episodes in which the offender doesn’t even touch the victim. Worse, the sexual molestation law covers all sexual offences “that outrage the victim’s modesty,” other than penetration. However, these two are bailable offences and only demand punishment of a maximum of two years in jail and/or a fine of few thousand rupees.
Though this law can be used in child sexual abuse cases, its reference to “unusual sexual offences” makes it difficult for child victims to use this option as a legal remedy. Since the definition of sexual abuse is nebulous, victims are largely at the mercy of the court’s discretion. On rare cases when abusers are booked after a cumbersome legal procedure, India’s conviction rate is so abysmal (despite the country’s sophisticated and complex set of laws), it seems like a Pyrrhic victory.
Apart from the legal dimension, child sexual abuse also has pronouncedly psychological and emotional elements. Worldwide surveys point out that such abuse negatively impacts a child’s physical, emotional and mental well-being, leading to severe behavioral and psychiatric disorders. Suicidal tendencies and drug abuse are common long-term effects.
A World Health Organization survey also points out that there is an unambiguous behavioral and emotional pattern in the abused. Usually the child hardly talks about the incident. And, even if he or she does, no one takes it seriously. That in turn triggers feelings of self doubt and guilt, exacerbating the child’s feeling that it is his or her fault. As the child matures, compulsive behavior reinforces this guilt. Small wonder that many adult sexual problems, according to psychoanalysts, trace their provenance to childhood abuse.
Charol Shakeshaft, a statistics professor in the School of Education and Allied Human Services at Hofstra University, New York, notes in her report, “Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature,” that “child sexual abusers, including educators and priests, use similar patterns of ‘grooming practices’ to break down a child's defenses. Often popular and well-regarded in their field, abusers engage in ‘systematic and premeditated grooming’ where they lavish special treatment on their intended victim buying presents or sharing secrets, for example and then advance to pornography.”
Where then, does the solution lie? Educating and enlightening kids about such issues, helping them distinguish between “good” and “bad” touch, is a partial answer, authorities say. Children also ought to be made aware of impulsive decisions they may make under pressure from peers, bullies and abusers. Sex education in schools is also productive. The Netherlands, a country where teenage pregnancy rates plummeted from 60 per cent to about 25 per cent through aggressive sex information campaigns in schools, is an example.
However, in India the issue of sexual abuse is still wedged between legal and policy commitments to children on the one hand, and the fallout of globalization on the other. A nationwide furor resulted after the government’s recent decision to introduce sex education in schools. The subject has divided opinion between camps who felt such a step would lead to unnecessary experimentation by curious teenagers and others who believed it would help whittle down cases of sexual abuse by creating widespread awareness.
In the meantime, with child sexual abuse attracting so much scrutiny and public debate, the government has the added impetus to adopt strong and unequivocal measures to contain such crimes. For a country with nearly 40 per cent of its populace comprised of children, such measures are overdue. Comments
(19)
I do not know why our government not doing anything..
Votes: +0
written by Thoi(Manipur, India) , December 31, 2009
276 million children in India are sexually abused
written by PK , September 04, 2009
Children in India make up 40% of the population. If an average 69% of them are subject to sexual abuse, that's 276 million children. Folks, that's 276,000,000. There is NO country in the world with this staggering number of sex abuse cases only against children! Add the abuse cases against women and the numbers will be even higher.
Votes: +1
India is a time bomb waiting to explode and need to add the death penalty for this kind of crimes. Want to compare the numbers? In 2007, there were 248,300 total victims of sexual assault in the USA. That includes children who had been victims. report abuse
vote down
vote up
India had the highest absue cases I had ever seen
written by PK , September 04, 2009
India has by far the highest sexual abuse cases in the entire world, second only to the middle east and Africa.
Votes: +1
When I worked in social projects in India, the number of cases were so staggering, you could basically randomly pick any person on the street and they had a history of sexual abuse. India needs huge efforts to establish special investigative units for sexual crimes, and punish with the death penalty. There is no other way to get the situation under control because it is an enormous problem. Foreign tourists too are constantly sexually harassed. Nearly all women I spoke with had been either touched or had a man masturbate in front of her while traveling in India. This was not common in old women, but practically everyone under the age of 40. report abuse
vote down
vote up
Was abused from 8 to 14 as a boy
written by Moha , August 05, 2009
I had a guy come to teach me and my sister Quran by coming to our house. We used to meet in a guest house kind of place behind the house. He used to finish my sister's lessons quickly and send her away. He then used to lock door and orally manupilate me and then anally abuse me for hours. This went on for 6 years. He used to bring boys with him sometimes and it used to be an orgy that to this day I can't believe that it really happened. Today I am gay and so messed up. I don't know what to think of what happened. I have never told anybody. I try to comfort anybody who has gone through it. Email me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
if anybody wants to talk.
Votes: +0
report abuse
vote down
vote up
...
written by CKJ , June 10, 2009
Aarti,
Votes: -1
You fail to say which city/town you were in? I grew up in India, and visit every year, and have never had anyone on the street grab me (yes, try and pinch me on a crowded bus, or rub themselves etc). This mainly in New Delhi. North India is notorious for this kind of crap. I grew up in Punjab and HP, while the town and city men are disgusting, the village men are not this way. I recently made a trip to South India and was pleasantly surprised by the men there, they did not seem to have that horrendous North Indian leer. However, it is important to be aware at all times, dress appropriately etc. Sad, but a fact. Sadly, sex abuse amongst/within families is prevalent and I believe most cases go unreported. I think your parents were wrong to tell you that you would be considered hypersexed? report abuse
vote down
vote up
The above story is mine
written by Shatru , March 18, 2009
Kara and others....
Votes: +2
Thanks for your reply. But my friend Nayan wrote this story not to understand that how bad is my country. We want some solution. We would like to know about any of the organisation which helps such victims. I would like to work for such organisation. report abuse
vote down
vote up
Please Suggest
written by Nayan , March 17, 2009
Pleas help?
Votes: +4
My friend is 16 yrs old; I completely broke when I heard his story; I started feeling like I am living in the hell. I really want to help him but don’t know what to do? As a result, I am writing here. My friend was 14 yrs old when he sexually abused by one of the criminal bastard of his locality, I don’t have words to express my regret of hearing his story. Fortunately, that bastard killed in an accident, god gave him fruit of his evilness. However, whatever bad happened with my friend was his past, he want to leave it back and go ahead, he is very brave hearted. But the thing is, his past is not leaving him, that bastard has already spread gossip of his wickedness to his supporters and some of the Eve-teasers. And they have started harassing my friend for his favor for the sex; one of them is a gay. My Friend told me that he has joined a gaybomaby group on yahoo.com, because he feel that he could be gay and seeking counseling on that group ( he has not accepted that he is gay and really wasn’t know that, most of the people there are for sex). He had replied to some of the topics on that group because he was very curious to educate himself on child abuse issues and was confused between child sexual abuse and homosexuality. I have convinced him that, he is not gay, He had sodomised, and not to seek help on that group. One of the eve-teasers from his locality recognized my friend on that group and started sending him harassing E-mails. This person is the same whom I have mentioned above is gay. Please suggest any organization who can take action against those people, my friend don’t wanted to approach police. And also suggest how to cope with situation like this. My friends mind and studies are getting affected. report abuse
vote down
vote up
...
written by a guest , March 02, 2009
brother was rap at the hospal
Votes: +0
 report abuse
vote down
vote up
...
written by Hasina , October 15, 2008
My heart breaks for all those who were abused in their childhood. Such pain does not just go away and proper therapy may help ease some of it.
Votes: +0
India like most of the Asia counties and also the Middle Eastern countries put such blame and shame on the victims that they do not even want to disclose what happened to them. Society needs to wake up and realize our children needs protecting. The US and other western countries have laws in place and services for victims. However, India does not have such resources and insteads sweeps it under the rug to save face and not bring shame to their country. I don't think they realize by doing nothing to help these victims its bringing more shame and resentment than anything to India. report abuse
vote down
vote up
My experience...
written by Aarthi , September 25, 2008
I am NOT AT ALL surprised... I was born in the US and on my trip to visit family at the age of 12 years, I have been fondled many times. It is so common place that when I was walking down the street dressed in my jeans and long sleeve t-shirt down to my knees, I had men throwing their hands in between my legs and grabbing me all over. When yelling at these people, they just smiled and thought this was normal. I was told my family that if I said anything it would look like I was hypersexual. I was 12 years and that was considered a child and, in their opinion, a child only takes touch as sexual if he/she "reads into it". What is worse is because of the stereotype that American people are over-sexed, any accusations I had were ignored and looked down on. India's economy is booming but its humanity has a lot of work ahead of it...
Votes: +3
report abuse
vote down
vote up
child abuse is a lifetime torture for me
written by anonym , September 21, 2008
i was abused sexually, verbally and emotionall since i was 9 years old. starting from my grandfather, to hes collegues, my brother and the list goes on. the only thing i wanted to save was my virginity and never to look at men again the same way. living in a house where porn is hidden away in nooks and corners of the house and finding my brother masturbating in the living hall wasnt the best memories from a childhood. im from a indian muslim family and i say this iregardless of my religion or race; it has nothing to do with sex abuse. those men who did this to me are still out there living a life of comfort and freedom where ive been imprisoned in a prison of my thoughts of fear...am 23 now.i know ive came a long way but when i put my head to rest at night, the fear of being raped still hounts me till today.
Votes: +6
report abuse
vote down
vote up
I was sexually abused by my mother and a sibling
written by Shazia , August 11, 2008
I was abused by my mother and a sibling (who had in all likelihood been abused herself when she was a child). Indians have very little understanding of sexual abuse and mothers are idolized. Which means that a sadistic cruel mother like mine can get away with the things she did coz nobody suspects a mother. And even when they knew (when I told some) they did nothing about it. Another assumption even in Europe and US is that when mothers do it, it must not be so bad- abuse is extremely damaging and women are just as capable of being sadistic as men. I became an exceptionally good humanbeing coz I made a choice at a young age never to let anybody suffer the cruelty I did. But I hope my society had done something to help me. Even when I shared my abuse with an Indian man who loved me (whom I married and now divorced), instead of helping me feel proud of who I had become despite the circumstances I was raised in, he repeatedly taunted me about coming from a family where "such things happened". No wonder only a couple of people know about my abuse (most of whom pretended as if it never happened or was never happening coz that way they didnt have to deal with the 'shame' in the family). Indian society punishes the victims of child sexual abuse with more shame.
Votes: +5
report abuse
vote down
vote up
I guess it\'s upto the ones who are angered by this
written by Anju Sabu , May 07, 2008
Thanks for this article. It really is an issue in India and yes, it's disgusting but I do think that people are getting more and more aware. But India's not alone in this. I think everyone country has its share of monsters and they've all learnt through time and troubles.
Votes: -1
report abuse
vote down
vote up
hmph,
written by jenna , April 12, 2008
i,myself, being an indian feel that india is the most disgusting country in the world.
Votes: +7
may sound harsh, but after reading this, you will agree with me that it's definitly true. the problem with indian people is that they all have EGOs. especially the men there feel as if they have the right to treat humans any way they wish. women also play a role in this (seeing how only 40% of them are educated) they are taught to respect men, to never "bring shame" upon the family, that men are the superior sex and they therefore must spend their lives depending on and serving men. i find it absolutely ridiculous to see men and women like this have children and actually expect their children to flourish. report abuse
vote down
vote up
Require more information on child abuse!
written by Shanawaz.N.K , March 31, 2008
Hi kara,
Votes: -4
we are a goan based film creative agency, we just started a month ago and our first project is a rock music video on paedophillia. We are aware of rising rate in child abuse specially in goa. we are planning to make a short fil addresing this issue, but we need more dope on the issue. It would be grateful if we collabrate and do something for the society. hoping for your response! report abuse
vote down
vote up
SEXUAL, EMOTIONAL AND PSYCOLOGICAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IN INDIA
written by BRYAN , November 04, 2007
I KNOW FIRST HAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SEXUALLY, PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY ABUSED SINCE I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD. THE CULTURE OF ABUSE IS SO INGRAINED THAT I FELT HELPLESS AND TRIED TO END MY LIFE AT AGE 10 WHEN MY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SUGGESTED I JOIN MY DEAD PARENTS AFTER PHYSICALLY BEATING ME AND PULLING MY HAIR TILL MY HEAD ACHED....
Votes: +2
I RESOLVED NEVER TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I GREW UP, LEFT THE COUNTRY AND VOWED NEVER TO BRING AN INNOCENT CHILD INTO THIS WORLD EVER. 49 YEARS LATER, I HAVE KEPT MY WORD. report abuse
vote down
vote up
It is a shame we have to live with for eternity....
written by Jaimala , September 21, 2007
I feel sad that Kara from Europe had to put up with such a rude and insensitive treatment in India. And wish I could apologize from her. It is so unencessary. We people; both in the West and in the East are living foolishly, oblivious of realities of one another. We not only have to confront the evils like Child Sexual Abuse collective and jointly, we also have to understand that they will remain-As long as there is life on earth. It would be good that we learnt to respect and appreciate each other in order to prevent things rather than isolate each other in order to protect ourselves one from another.
Votes: -2
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Not surprised, but will India make changes?
written by Kara (Europe) , June 11, 2007
I am not surprised to this report. Traveling and working in India, it was almost visible. But whenever I mentioned it, it met with resentment and aggression. Indian people are not ready to hear the truth that their society is full of sexual misconduct and that action need be taken, because women and children become the victims of it.
Votes: +0
I remember giving blood and being told by a doctor that they dont want 'white blood' because we spread AIDS and AIDS comes from the west... According to him, India did not have a single case of AIDS and homosexuality was a western "culture"... Only one year later the WHO announced that India was the second largest HIV and AIDS community in the world. Not only that, aids were spreading in communities where there existed no tourists! I feel the porn industry contribute a lot to the sexual assault that women and children are subject to wherever in the world we are. The porn industry must be closed down. report abuse
vote down
vote up
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
The Risk of Travel in AsiaOur Correspondent A new report by International Risk says it's a jungle out there
Full Story |
| Other Articles |
Alice Poon
| Freedom of Expression Too Precious to Throw AwayThursday, 04 February 2010 | Alice Poon
In a free society, there will always be more than one single opinion. In a free society, it is accepted that everyone should have an equal right to express his/her opinion without fearing... Full Story |
| Previous posts: |
John Elliott: Riding the Elephant
| From vultures in Delhi, to coups in Pakistan, a journalist's un-edited take on current events |
Donate to Asia Sentinel
Archive
- The Risk of Travel in Asia
- Book Review: Red Wired: China's Internet Revolution
- Death of an Andaman Tribe
- Singapore Pulls the Welcome Mat for Foreign Workers
- Another Chapter in a Uniquely Hong Kong Saga
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun: Polyandry in Malaysia
- Prominent California Immigration Lawyer Loses License
- Avatar vs. Confucius in China
- Malaysia Loses a Founding Father
- Perception and Royal Reality in Malaysia
First of all my greetings for this coming year to one and all.
Coming to the point we all do know that it is happenning every minute. What I think is we should always try to be vigilant and yes try to help someone who so ever goes through it.
Was reading some books on CSA.. mainly the studies are based abroad. For our own BHARAT we are just throwing the money.. to something else. The govt not giving any kind of hit to either health, education sector either.. Everything is just on paper...
Most of us have already face it.... But we are bold enough to let it not happen to our youngones..
Have become really vigilant in these growing years....n have learn a lot form this life..
I do agree to kara about the porn industry which should be banned.. But there are always pros and cons to whatever step the market or the society would be taking..
Lets hope for the best..
Regards
Thoi. M