Sexual Abuse: The Naked Truth

According to the world's largest-ever study on child abuse conducted by Prayaas, an NGO, with support from Unicef and the Department of Women and Child Development, every second child in India is abused. Of the 17,000 children interviewed over 50% reported some form of physical, sexual or economic abuse. 71% children had been beaten. Of them 29% required medical attention.

At least 25% respondents in the study, which concluded in December 2006, had been sexually abused - 30 per cent of them by family members or relatives. The alarming study unmasks the uncaring, cruel face of modern India.

Defining Sexual Abuse

The sexual abuse of children and its impact on their psychosocial and intellectual growth has been the subject of increasing attention during the last two decades. Sexual intercourse with a child by an older person is the extreme form of abuse, but 'inappropriate fondling' or 'dirty talk' also constitutes sexual abuse. Girls are the common victims and the perpetrators are generally family members or outsiders well known to the family. It may start when the child is quite young, even in the pre-school period and may continue for years. As the child grows and starts understanding relationships in their proper perspective, the enormity of what is happening dawns on her. She is faced with several distressing questions:

· Who should she tell?

· Will anyone believe her?

· Was it her fault?

· Will her family break if she tells?

· Will the abuser be punished or jailed?

The abuser may threaten the child with dire consequences if she ever tells anyone anything. Instead of intimidating, the abuser may try to please her with gifts. He may tell her, they have a special relationship and that it is to be their own secret to be shared with no one else. In her agony and confusion the child hesitates in disclosing the abuse and may never tell it to anyone.

Effects of Sexual Abuse