Dr Navneet Kaur
A tree achieves its purpose when it flowers and then bears fruit from these flowers. It is during these tender years of flowering when the petals slowly start to peep from their stems imparting the whole process a delicate beauty. A beauty which a whiff of frigid air, a gust of strong wind or rain or even a few warm afternoons can blemish and break!
Girl child is like a petal, delicate, easily bruised but a harbinger of a happiness and prosperity of tomorrow. They need to be nurtured carefully, shielding them from bad intentions and abuse. They are not only a vibrant part of growth of tomorrow, but also mothers who are going to nurture the next generation!
The tragedy afflicting our times is the dastardly crime of child sex abuse. Are we as a Society sensitized to this affliction? Are we educating our innocent girl children? Do our social responsibilities move us to actively root out this horrendous crime, and are our cultural sensibilities honed to a point where such a crime becomes impossible to engage in! Unfortunately the answer is a un-mitigating negative. Our Society at best ignores and at worst endorses such crimes! We are culturally taught acceptance is better than fighting this evil.
The Government has brought in force the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act since 2012. It is a strong Law which is non-bailable and prescribes heavy penalty. The law is being implemented albeit slowly. The reason for this is not only slow reaction of officials concerned but also an un-sensitised society which tends to look away from such despicable crimes. In today’s environment where the barometer of society towards sexual crimes against girl child should be very sensitive, the crimes have plummeted to a new low! Younger and younger children are sexually and most of the time cruelly abused. The society has plummeted to new lows!
Recently another case of a minor girl being forcibly inducted in sexual trade came to light when it was registered under POSCO Act, at Bahu Police Station, Jammu. The crimes against minor girls is on the rise.
This incident again gives rise to some fundamental questions. Are we not teaching our citizens the social consciousness of right and wrong.? Do our boys grow up as young princes, who are not taught to respect the women and not look upon them as chattels and sex objects, but an equal human being worthy of respect and consideration!?
People need to radically change their attitudes towards female children. A Girl Child exposed to sexual exploitation or sexual abuse of physical and mental nature grows up in fear all her childhood and eventually is scarred for life. She not only suffers terribly at the hands of the perpetrators, but also from the callous attitude of society. Till we learn and teach our next generation that a girl child/women are equal human beings and should be loved, respected, and cared for, the situation is bleak.
The human rights of female children, even when protected on paper, are violated in practice.
We really need to curb the mischief and offences associated with immoral trafficking which has become an organised crime.
We should aim to prevent ‘immoral traffic’ in women and girls. Young girls are being exploited and forced to sexual trade. Effective education and mass media should counter inhuman actions especially when a minor is used as a sex object or a commodity. Child rights need to be protected proactively. Every Child deserves a safe environment.
Good touch bad touch awareness needs to made part of basic teaching to every child. They need to be taught to not get scared or feel a shame in sharing any experience with their parents and teachers. Adults need to take them seriously and not dismiss their thoughts as flights of fancy. Child sex abusers hide behind every kind of social mask. Give them a voice against exploitation or sexual abuse by giving them faith, confidence and please monitor them regularly!
A comprehensive campaign is needed that combats gender-based inequalities, discrimination, exploitation, oppression, abuse, violence, inhuman values, and violations of human rights, particularly against female children. Family structures need to be strengthened and enriched. There is a reduction in human and spiritual values.
Girls are subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation, prostitution, rape, and a denial of their right to protection. There is the need of the very pro-active police, administration, local public , communities and NGOs at every level. It needs to develop in a mass movement.
Awareness of helpline numbers and Childline services needs to be introduced to the children in schools, play ways, urban slums, communities and societies.
Let us stand together to raise awareness, support survivors, and work towards ending sexual violence in our UT.
(The author is Social and Human Rights Activist Founder Chairperson NGO SUPPORT.)
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