Abduction and sexual victimisation are the urban realities of the Capital, which constantly haunt every parent. Frightened, cautious parents are pulling in all help they can garner to ensure that children stay safe in the city.
Yet incidents, such as the two in Anand Vihar and Ranhola over the weekend, happen. What remain exposed are the gaps that constant efforts by all stakeholders, responsible for providing that elusive safe environment for children, leave.
Numbers state the same sad story. Eighteen children go missing in Delhi every day on an average. Only a few are traced and reunited to their parents. Eight cases of child abuse happen every day, but the conviction rate is abysmal at 2.4 per cent.
What is worrying, however, is the international researched and documented fact that most sexual abuse of children is committed by people close/around and known to them.
“Keeping your children safe: Rhetoric and Reality by Ernest E. Allen’ says most sexual abuse is committed by persons known to the children. Of this family members constitute one-third to half.”
“Though figures and this information are fairly well-known, why aren’t we able to recognise, warn, and protect our children?” question parents and family.
“Children (till about seven years ) view the world and threats differently. They are not able to foresee actions or intentions. So when parents tell them that such a situation is dangerous they are not able to imagine it and comprehend it,” said Dr. Priyaranjan Avinash, a psychiatrist.
“Don’t take candy from strangers…this line doesn’t seem to be enough anymore. Checks, counter checks, and even more checks is the way forward for most parents. Empower children is what we suggest. Talk to them, tell them about the dangers, and explain to them what to do in case they find themselves in an abusive situation. Also understand that different age group of children needs different ways of explaining the dangers and reinforcement,” said Dr. Avinash.
Psychiatrist Dr. T. S. Sathyanarayana Rao at a workshop on Understanding and Management of Sexual Dysfunction in the city earlier this month, said “Only adequate sex education can generate awareness which can contribute to cut down incidents of sexual crime.’’
Investigating officers, who have dealt with sexual cases, said sex education in schools start at a certain age, but the difference between a ‘good touch and bad touch’ needs to be told to the children much earlier, even at the age of five.
This, they said, should be done in an institutional manner so that in the unfortunate event of them being subjected to any advances, they are prepared enough to raise an alarm. They, however, acknowledged the fact that in areas where girls are not enrolled or attendance remains poor, there is a need to reach out to children and parents and explain these things.
Additionally, international studies and experts have documented the fact that child victimisation is a large and underreported problem. Experts and psychiatrists said the way-out and possible prevention could be the government’s focus on sex education.
Doctors working in area of mental health said it is agreed upon that most sex-related crimes and incidents of eve teasing and rape link those individuals who have suffered some kind of discrimination in their childhood; those who were left secluded from individuals of other sex or those who were victimised one way or the other.
