This document discusses the serious issue of child sexual abuse and the need to give it more attention. It notes that child sexual abuse victims often do not realize they are being abused. The document also provides statistics showing that over 50% of children in India reported experiencing some form of sexual abuse. It defines different types of child sexual abuse, such as sexual assault, exploitation, and grooming. The conclusion is that child sexual abuse is a serious epidemic that occurs everywhere and it is time to take active steps to address and prevent this violation of children's rights.

1. Child Sex Abuse- Giving the Concern it deserves
“The abuser's desire to abuse is not created by the child, it is there before the child
appears” ― Carolyn Ainscough, Breaking Free: Help For Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse
You can be voice for people who are hesitant to speak up, but how can you help and speak for
them who have no idea what they need to speak for… who have no idea that this is injustice
being done to them… who have no idea that they are being victimized…
I was once pondering upon the question as to who are the worst victims.
I wondered and concluded that these are the victims who don’t even know that they are being
victimized, who have no understanding to the crime the violence being done to them. This is the
worst case scenario, but who fall among this category? Insane, mentally challenged and the
innocent child was the categories that strike my mind. The condition that attracted me and
concerned me the most is the condition of a child; the innocent children being victimized by
child sexual abuse. My concern was strongly influenced by me being an Indian. India, where the
subject of child sexual abuse is still a taboo and I belonging to a traditional conservative family
and community structure, is supposed not to talk on this subject and consider maintaining the
honor by keeping such topics even if noticed within the four walls, in the family.
If child abuse were a disease, we’d have telethons, rallies and other public events to raise money
for a cure. Just as we didn’t talk openly about cancer in the 1960s and 1970s, we must get past
our discomfort talking about child sexual abuse, and give it the attention it deserves.
Child abuse is more than bruises and broken bones
Child abuse is defined as intentional acts that results in physical or emotional harm to the
children. There are many different forms of abuse that included physical, emotional, neglect and
sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse includes a variety of sexual offenses, including: sexual assault –
a term defining offenses in which an adult touches a minor for purpose of sexual gratification;
for example, rape. Sexual exploitation – a term defining offenses in which adult victimizes a
minor for advancement, sexual gratification, or profit; for example, prostituting a child, and

2. creating or trafficking in child pornography. Sexual grooming – defines the social conduct of a
potential child sex offender who seeks to make a minor more accepting of their advances, for
example in an online chat room.
Child sexual abuse is an epidemic, one that most people would like to think happens in some
other neighborhood, to some other family, to some other child. While it may seem easier to live
in denial, child abuse happens everywhere. Child sexual abuse knows no barriers--- not race,
income or religion. It happens in your neighborhood. It’s happened to someone you know.
A 2007 report for child abuse in India showed that out of the total number on whom research was
conducted 53.22% children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse that
included severe and other forms. Among them 52.94% were boys and 47.06% girls.1
The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is one of the most vicious crimes
conceivable, a violation of mankind's most basic duty to protect the innocentJames T. Walsh
Thus, it’s high time we pay concern to mitigate and eradicate this evil from our society.
1
Study on Child Abuse: India 2007, a report by Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India,
available at http://wcd.nic.in/childabuse.pdf.