PDF, 1.1MB - Combat Law

child rightsChild Sexual Abuse - Time for ActionBY PRATHIBA MENONChild Sexual Abuse iscomplete violation of achild’s dignity. It is theacts or failures byadults, which results inphysical or emotional harm to thechild, and prevents the child fromdeveloping in a healthy manner.Children are often abused at thehands of the state, society and familyin most shameful and objectionableways.Sexual abuse has many forms. Itcan sometimes be so subtle that achild may not even be aware that theabuse is taking place, just thathe/she is uncomfortable with it. Theabuse can be verbal, physical or emotional,just like any other kind ofabuse.Sexual abuse may include Sexual touching and fondling Exposing a child to pornographicmaterials and or adult sexualactivity having a child pose, undress orperform in a sexual fashion “peeping” into bedrooms or bathroomsrape or attempted rapeThere are many reasons why childrendon’t tell others about sexualabuse. The biggest of these are fearand guilt. Children often fear thatthey will not be believed about thesexual abuse or they blame themselvesfor the abuse inflicted on themby others. They see it as punishmentfor deeds that they may have done.Everyone fears the unknown, especiallychildren.In most cases children are abusednot by strangers but by people theyknow and may even be fond of. Thisis yet another reason for them tokeep quiet about the abuse. In somecases the abused children identifywith their abusers and start seeingthem as their “protectors”. This kindof identification is an extension ofthe Stockholm Syndrome, where acaptive identifies with the captor. Inthe same manner, a victim of childsexual abuse is sometimes gratifiedby the attention showered onhim/her by the abuser or has strongfeelings towards the abuser. It istherefore important for a victim ofsexual abuse to understand thatwhat the abuser has done is not beneficialto the child and will hurt thechild in the long term.Popular Myths about ChildSexual AbuseChild sexual abuse takes placeat the hands of strangers on thestreet.Statistics reflect that a greaternumber of children are abused athome than in other settings.Generally, children are sexuallyabused by adults who are related tothem, or known to them or their families,and the abuse occurs at thehome of the perpetrator.Child sexual exploiters are monstersor psychopaths or mentallyill persons.Child sexual abusers or exploitersare not monsters. A child sexual33 combat law • April - May 2004AMITA CHAVANabuser could be your ‘nice’ neighbourwith whose children your child playsevery evening. Child sexualexploiters attempt to justify theiraction in different ways; the childrenthey abuse are not harmed by theabuse, the abused children were inany event sexually open and free,child prostitutes are desperate formoney and therefore benefit fromsexual contact with adults and manymore such excuses.Child abusers have been victimsof child abuse themselves.Sexual abuse is about corruption,not all victims go on to becomeabusers. The victim, especially thoseliving on the streets, often have sexwithout being informed about theconsequences or make uninformeddecisions based on socio-economic orpeerpressure.Child sexual exploiters are distinctfrom prostitute-users.Child sexual exploiters are mainlyprostitute-users and do not form asub-group. The majority of prostitutedchildren are integrated into themainstream sex industry whichserves all those who purchase sex.‘Seductive children’ entice theperpetrator and enjoy the abuse.