The Hindu Business Line : 53% of kids face sexual abuse: Survey

Hyderabad May 8 A national survey on child abuse, the largest empirical in-country study of its kind in the world, has found that two out of every three children are physically abused and an equal number reported facing corporal punishment.

The States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi, have reported high rates of abuse in all forms, when compared to their peers.

The study, which was conducted in 13 States, was taken up by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund).

The study was aimed at assessing the magnitude and forms of child abuse and profile of the abused children and the social and economic conditions leading to their abuse.

It found that 53.22 per cent of children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse. The four States mentioned above topped this list as well. Confirming other studies, the survey found that half of the victims were abused by people who knew them very well.

They were so vulnerable that half of them could not complain about the abuse to anyone.

Sexual assault

The four States also had the dubious distinction of subjecting the children to severest sexual assault. Children on streets, at work and in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault. More than 72 per cent of them didn't report the matter.

It's not just children. Young adults too were subjected to sexual abuse and assault. Over 10 per cent of the respondents in 13 States were sexually assaulted.

Emotional abuse

Emotionally too children were at the receiving end. Every second child reported facing emotional abuse, with 83 per cent of offenders being parents.

Delhi topped the list of States that indulged in one or more forms of emotional abuse in female young adults. About 87 per cent of them faced emotional abuse during their childhood.

The survey has called for policy and legislative support to protect children and evolving protocols on child protection.

More Stories on : Children & Parenting | Andhra Pradesh

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