21% of the world’s children live in India (one in five). Within India, 42% of our total population is aged below 18 years (2011 Census). India also has one of the largest number of children who have experienced sexual abuse. 53.22% i.e. over one in two children in India experience one or more forms of sexual abuse before they turn 18. Further, over 20% of children experience severe forms of sexual abuse. Out of the 53.22% of children who reported being sexually abused, more than half were boys. According to NCRB data 2019, out of all the CSA cases that were reported, 94% of abusers were known and trusted people to the children, i.e. from within the family or neighbours.

Sexual abuse is not just limited to physical forms that involve direct touch, but also include verbal and visual forms like sexualized talk, forceful exposure to pornography, and more. Contrary to common perception, any act can be sexually abusive provided the intention behind it is sexual gratification of the abuser. It may or may not involve force, pain, or violence. If an adult or an older child engages in any sexual behaviour with a child to meet their sexual needs and interests, it is sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse can be categorised in two forms— contact and non-contact. Some common forms of contact abuse are:
● Touching a child’s genitals or private parts for sexual purposes.
● Making a child touch someone else’s genitals or play sexual games.
● Putting objects or body parts (like fingers, tongue or penis) inside the vagina, in the mouth or in the anus of a child for sexual purposes.
● Fondling, sexualised hugging or any kind of sexualised touching.

Some common forms of non-contact abuse are:
● Showing pornography to a child.
● Deliberately exposing one’s genitals to a child.
● Photographing a child in sexual poses or nude.
● Encouraging a child to watch or hear sexual acts.
● Inappropriately watching a child undress or use the bathroom.
● Obscene phone calls, text messages, or digital interaction.
● Exhibitionism, or exposing oneself to a minor.
● Masturbation in the presence of a minor or forcing the minor to masturbate.
● Producing, watching, storing or sharing pornographic content of children.
● Any other sexual conduct that is harmful to a child’s mental, emotional, or physical welfare.

Internet and child sexual abuse: The online revolution is at times compared to the industrial revolution in a way that it has restructured economic and social lives in the twenty-first century. With virtual anonymity also come unique threats for children, putting them at a higher risk of exploitation and harm. The internet has given perpetrators exploiting children a new medium to network, create child sexual abuse material, share this material, as well as explore new identities under the garb of anonymity. Sexual abuse through the internet can take many forms including:
● Distributing abusive images of children.
● Blackmailing by acquiring the child’s private pictures or messages or by using morphing technology.
● Cyber-stalking.
● Sharing private content with an intention to seek revenge or harm.
● Grooming a child online for later abuse (online or offline) through the use of chat rooms, bulletin boards and online communities where the abuser befriends the child to gain trust.
● Prostituting a child for later abuse either by the perpetrator themselves or by others.
● Engaging children in cyber-sex scenarios.
● Children being sold online for live sexual abuse online – the perpetrator informs their online “peers” the intentions to abuse a child on a set date and time and these “peers” can watch this abuse occurring through a webcam.

Many times, sexual abuse is a combination of contact, non-contact and online abuse.

To read the UNICEF report on Child Online Protection in India 2016, click here

Perhaps due to the anxiety associated with imagining children going through the trauma of sexual abuse, as well as because of the stigma around the topic, many people find it best to not talk about it. They hope that it never happens to their children. Some common stereotypes that further silence the conversations are:
● It happens in lower-income groups.
● It does not happen in “good” families. Definitely not in MY family.
● My child will tell me if someone hurts them.
● This can’t happen to MY child.
● It is only sexual abuse if it involves touching.
● My child is safe as they stay away from strangers.

The reality is that there is no way of knowing who may pose a threat to the children around us. We know that most sexual abuse comes from trusted people. It is important to debunk the stereotypes and face the fact that children are at risk of exploitation. By doing so, adults can prepare themselves to identify threats and communicate openly with children about their safety. By opening a channel of communication with children and ensuring that they trust adults to help them in any adversity, especially bodily violation, adults can help empower children to recognise sexual threats and act in their own safety.

Child abuse includes physical, emotional, sexual abuse and also neglect. All forms of abuse account for the maltreatment of children. Most child abuse is a combination of two or more forms. However, child sexual abuse is especially detrimental as it may interfere with the typical psycho-emotional development of children and leave a long-term impact on their self-image, health and abilities to form trusting relationships.

According to a study conducted by Melissa Hall and Joshua Hall, (2011), childhood sexual abuse infringes on the basic rights of children. When seduced, manipulated or coerced into some form of sexual activity, it robs children of a sense of control and choice that is central to their holistic development and wellbeing. The dynamics of being violated by someone they trust, and a loss of control over the situation can lead to traumatic implications. Being developmentally unprepared for sexual activity, the natural course of their emotional and sexual development is disrupted. Further, when abuse comes from people who are responsible for the care and safety of the child, it confuses the attachment patterns. Child sexual abuse is often also accompanied by other forms of abuse like neglect, emotional and sometimes physical abuse. Hence, most survivors of child sexual abuse report higher levels of anxiety, guilt, immunity-related health problems, issues related to identity, self-esteem, sexuality and relationship related issues in the longer term.

In simple words, because they can. However, this has been a point of contention for researchers for years. Abusers derive sexual gratification, exploration or a power kick or a complex mix of all, by subjecting their desires on children. Most abusers offend on an opportunistic basis and because children make easy targets. As a society, we weigh the words of adults over children’s. This makes it easy to target and silence children as they do not have any real power in society.

A common stereotype is that those who sexually abuse children are mentally unstable. This may be true for a small minority. The majority of child sexual abusers are people we may have met and are likely to know. Often abusers are respectable members within families, communities or institutions. There is no prototype of an abuser. Therefore, an abuser could be anybody.

There are many reasons children do not disclose being sexually abused, including:
● Threats of bodily harm (to the child and/or the child’s family).
● Fear of being thrown out of the house.
● Fear of not being believed.
● Shame or guilt.

If the abuser is someone the child or the family cares about, the child may worry about getting that person in trouble. In addition, children often believe that the sexual abuse was their own fault and may not disclose for fear of getting in trouble themselves. Very young children may not have the language skills to communicate about the abuse or may not understand that the actions of the perpetrator are abusive, particularly if the sexual abuse is made into a game. If a child discloses abuse, it is critical to stay calm, listen carefully, and NEVER blame the child.

Sexual activity between family members related by blood or who form immediate family is understood as incest. This understanding may vary from culture to culture. In India, under the POCSO act, sexual activity initiated by a family member towards a child is understood as an aggravated form of assault, as it is the responsibility of the family to care for and protect the child. When those in charge of protecting a child harm them sexually, it betrays their trust and hampers the typical developmental journey. Incest is a very common and severe form of child sexual.