A Request for Active Participation . . .

What exactly is Child Sexual Abuse?

   It is, according to the medical and legal authorities, any behaviour committed by an older or more powerful person on a younger or more vulnerable person for his/her own sexual gratification. The abuser may be an adult or an older child; the victim is always a child. The child is defined legally as a minor or anyone below the age of 18 years.

   Whether one is a parent, grandparent or aunt or uncle, or even a mere neighbour -- we are what can be termed as “significant adults” in the lives of the children around us. Thus we should all be concerned about their well being and safety. I personally believe this to be of paramount importance and in an effort to create greater safety and prevent harm or abuse would like to share some facts regarding Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) with you.

   First of all it is important that one becomes aware of CSA. This is because it there all around us and most of us are blissfully unaware of it while those who know about it choose to turn a blind eye towards it for various reasons.

Some facts about CSA are . . .

·        CSA begins as early as at the age of 5 years
·        69% of Indian Children are victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse
·        89% of the crimes are perpetrated by someone the child knows and trusts – often a family member
·        80% of the cases go unreported or even un-shared with parents/family

  Some news reports from India are given below – I have provided the links for you to delve deeper if you so wish:

   NEW DELHI: In a shocking revelation, a government commissioned survey has found that more than 53% of children in India are subjected to sexual abuse, but most don't report the assaults to anyone.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Over-53-children-face-sexual-abuse-Survey/articleshow/1881344.cms

   Hear these stories and then imagine them amplified thousands of times — in every brutal variation — in every part of the country. Imagine 48,838 children raped in just 10 years. Imagine what it means when you are told this staggering figure — which is a National Crimes Record Bureau statistic — is possibly only 25 percent of the actual child rapes going on in the country. And that only 3 percent — a mere 3 percent — of these make it to the police. Imagine what it means when you are told child rapes have seen a chilling 336 percent jump from 2001 to 2011.

http://www.tehelka.com/what-are-we-doing-to-our-kids-2/

   If you search there is no dearth of statistics about this matter. But what matters is what WE do, as concerned citizens, concerned adults.

   I invite comments and suggestions from all . . . please contribute.