[Answered] “Various legislations in india has failed to stop the rampant sexual abuse of children.” In light of this discuss the issue of child sex abuse in India. What should be done to prevent such crime?

India is home to the largest child population in the world, with almost 42% of the total population under 18 years of age. Statistics reveal that there has been a steady increase in sexual crimes against children. According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development over half of the children surveyed reported having faced some form of sexual abuse. Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) has failed to protect child from sexual abuse.

Reasons for rampant child sex abuse in India despite of laws:

1. Low conviction rates under the present laws.
2. Lack of child-friendly procedures and facilities.
3. Challenges related to age-determination of the child. Especially laws focus on biological age and not mental age.
4. Poor appreciation of the testimony of the child adversely affects the conviction rate.
5. Majority of child sexual abuse goes unreported. Only about a third of child sexual abuse incidents/cases are identified, and even fewer are reported.
6. Lack of awareness and illiteracy about child sexual abuse especially in rural areas.
7. Involvement of family members which is often suppressed by the parents to prevent shame and family disintegration.
8. Lack of facilities in schools and lack of training of teachers to teach child about sexual abuse.
9. Act focuses more towards punishment and less on reformation efforts toward convicts.
10. Lack of provision of police training to deal sensitive cases of children.

Impacts of sexual abuse on children:

1. Physical dangers: It can result in death and lead to injuries to the child.
2. Mental Impact: Children exposed to violence have higher rates of anxiety, depression, other mental health problems and suicide. Mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),  self harm, suicidal thoughts.
3. Impact on education: It can negatively affect cognitive development and results in educational and vocational under-achievement. Children exposed to sexual abuse and other adversities are more likely to drop out of school and have difficulty in employment.
4. Behavioural Impact: Emotional difficulties such as anger, anxiety, sadness or low self-esteem. Disturbing thoughts, emotions and memories that cause distress or confusion. Children exposed to sexual abuse and other adversities are more likely to smoke, misuse alcohol and drugs, and engage in high-risk sexual behaviour.
5. Dangers to health: Child sexual abuse can lead to unintended pregnancies, induced abortions, gynaecological problems, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Measures to prevent sexual abuse of children:

1. Parents should closely and carefully observe the behavioural changes of their children and should teach their kids about sexual abuse.
2. Making stricter legislation against offenders with proper implementation. Life imprisonment of not death should be awarded.
3. At school level, authorities should check the background and credentials of the job applicants.
4. Children should be made aware of acts like POSCO so as to make them aware of their legal right.
5. CCTV cameras should be installed in schools.
6. Community awareness program should be encouraged to increase awareness among children about the evil of sexual abuse.
7. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act can be amended to allow Child Welfare Committees to receive complaints.
8. Media should play a proactive role and should be prohibited from disclosing the personal identity of the victim categorically in line with the Juvenile Justice Act.
9. Media should be prohibited from reporting the identity of the victim categorically in line with the Juvenile Justice Act.
10. Issues like child marriage should be clearly addressed as there is contradiction between POCSO Act and personal law.

Children are the future of the nation and it is needed that they should be prevented from such crimes. Plugging gaps in justice system, not death penalty, can curb child sexual abuse. There is an urgent need to urgently devise ways to bolster the existing criminal justice and child protection systems and ensure higher convictions. There is also need to revamp the POSCO act. Unless the voice is raised, nothing is going to be heard since most of the incidents are buried under due to the fact that majority of the molesters belong to the same family and the next reason being losing their name /status in the society.