The fraternity of the internationally recognised, awarded, acclaimed figures from the development sector/NGOs/CBOs and social workers appear to have forgotten their professional commitments and responsibilities.
In times of duress and instances of extreme variations in human behaviour the response is not that of an organised sector committed to alleviating and eradicating human misery but seem to take-up the science, principles and movements of a circus.
Today, the buzz-word is Rights-based Intervention. The whole world is over-whelmed with activity that promises child ‘Rights’, ‘Free-space to every child’ and many more such very promising shibboleths/ catchwords and dreams. The situation is this way when some of the top proponents of these Rights have published the following observations in this regard, in the present context and in the immediate present.
NEW DELHI: Days before he embarks upon a ‘Bharat Yatra’ from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi shared his quest for a “war against rape and sexual abuse of children”.
“The age of rape victims is getting lower and the heinous crime is getting even more horrific as the victims are being murdered, the time for talk and preaching is over,”
“India is facing a moral epidemic in the form of child abuse”, he said, adding that he himself is unable to look into the eyes of victims and their families.
The Nobel Laureate shared the ordeal of the father of a young girl who was gang-raped and murdered in Shimla recently. The girl’s father, Mr Satyarthi claimed, told him that his daughter’s body had 50 bite marks on it. The 63-year-old added that such cases are “a slap on our culture, religion and constitution.”
Nobel Laureate Mr Satyarthi on The NDTV Dialogues.
Viji Arora, Director of Child Rights and You (CRY), said: “They go missing on account of various reasons. They are probably potential victims of rape, abuse or they are being basically trafficked for labour purposes or for commercial sexual exploitation, or being put in something like begging or even organ trading.”
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights was set up to develop strict laws and policies on the issue. Experts say while the laws and policies are in place, there is a systemic failure to implement them.
Save the Children India’s CEO, Thomas Chandy, said “ . . . many children now see abuse as a part of their lives.
If they are approached or, if they are abused by a family member, and when they see that happening with the rest of their siblings or friends, they probably think that it is a given, you know, that it happens everywhere. So, what needs to be done is to introduce a lot of awareness building activities within such communities.”
Child psychiatrists say the psychological impact of abuse adversely affects the overall development of the child.
In adulthood they may struggle to see a future for themselves—they may develop anger issues and find it difficult to maintain healthy relationships.
Doctor Gupta from The Centre for Child and Adolescent Wellbeing in Delhi, said that, “with the right support, abused children can recover from these types of trauma. The challenge for India is that these atrocities of child abuse and abductions are shrouded in silence and secrecy. Many communities are afraid their children will become ostracized if they talk openly about sexual abuse.” I find our collective, silence, reticence and ignoring of issues relating to the safety and security of children and women over the past few decades is fast taking us to a point of no return despite government legislators and law enforcement agencies promulgating Acts of Parliament and legal statutes which, have proved to be toothless, worthless
