This document provides information on dealing with child sexual abuse victims in a compassionate manner. It emphasizes establishing trust with the victim, extracting information without re-traumatizing them, and ensuring their future safety. Key points include interviewing the victim in a private, comfortable setting; using open-ended, non-leading questions; being prepared for strong emotional reactions; and addressing any medical needs while prioritizing the victim's well-being. The overall goal is to help the victim without further victimizing them during the legal process.

1. P.O.C.S.O.
Prevention of Children from
Sexual Offences Act 2012
Dealing with the victims …????
•Care….
•Compassion….
•Empathy……

2. Prevalence
• US: -
o 1 in 4 female and 1 in 6 males are sexually
assaulted before the age of 18yrs
o Less than 10% of these will ever tell any one
about this
o Reporting rate 6 to 8 % only
• India: -
o Worse estimates in India (53%)
o Reporting rates may be lower

3. What is Child Sexual Abuse?
• Unwanted sexual activity by a perpetrator
using force, making threats or taking
advantage of victims not being able to give
resist or give valid consent
• Victim less than 18 yrs old
• Most abusers are known
to the victims

4. What is Child Sexual Abuse?
– Inapropriate touching of kids
– Exposing or touching the private
parts of child
– Showing (or gettting touched) ones
private parts to the child
– Having penetrative intercorse (vaginal/anal)
– Making porongraphy of children
– Inappropriate staring, commenting, following,
stalking etc.

5. Psychological Impacts?
EARLY IMPACTS
o Fear
o Helplessness
o Guilt or shame
o Responsibility
o Betrayal
o Anger
o Sadness
o Insomnia
o Flashbacks

6. Psychological Impacts?
LATE COMPLICATIONS
o Depression
o Anxiety Disorder
o Low Self Esteem
o Social Isolation
o Sleep Problems
o Hyperalertness
o DSH (Deliberate Self Harm)
o Difficult Sexual Life
o PTSD

7. Dealing with the victims …????
AIMS OF THE INTERVIEW
o To know the facts
o To secure future safety of the child
o To get a picture of child’s physical & emotional state
o To assess if the child needs medical attention
o To assess if the child needs counselling or psychiatrist
consultation

8. Dealing with the victims …????
• PLACE
– Preferably at the residence of the victim
– In presence of parent or a person of trust
– Away from the accused
– No phones/interruptions/noises/
TV or people walking around
– No overhearing people

9. Dealing with the victims …????
• INTERVIEWER
– Officer not in uniform
– Female officer for a girl child
– Least number of officers to
interview the child
– Watch your body language
and expressions … (Children
are very sensitive about unsaid
part of communication)

10. Dealing with the victims …????
• PRE-INTERVIEW WORK
– Know the language child is
most comfortable in
– Know in who’s company is
child most comfortable
– Know the mental age of child
in case she/he is subnormal
– Do not discuss the case details
in front of the child

11. Dealing with the victims …????
• ESTABLISHING TRUST
– Who you are and what is the
purpose of interviewing the child
(Helping person & not an investigator)
– Explain that her/his safety will be assured
in future
– Explain to the child that what ever
happened is no fault of her/his
– Ask if child is hungry/thirsty

12. Dealing with the victims …????
• ESTABLISHING TRUST
– Explain that everything will be kept confidential
including child’s name/identity
– Not to divulge the name and details to media and
other people

13. Dealing with the victims …????
• EXTRACTING INFORMATION
– Give time to the victim & be a patient listener,
first let the child say whatever she /he wants to tell
– Do not push to extract information
– Allow victim to withhold information (till he/she is
comfortable for information to flow out)

14. Dealing with the victims …????
• EXTRACTING INFORMATION
– Do not probe the child’s private life not to be
unnecessarily probed
– Avoid leading questions
– Use open ended questions
– Secondary victimization?
– Avoid questioning the child’s behavior or
reactions (Why did you not tell mother etc)

15. Dealing with the victims …????
• NO ASSUMPTIONS POLICY
– Do not assume what “sex” or “sexual abuse”
means to the child
– Do not assume the gender of offender
– Do not assume the offender’s identity till
clarified
– Do not interpret child’s silence

16. Dealing with the victims …????
• BE PREPARED
– Be prepared for any type of
emotional reactions
– May include crying, anger
outbursts, screaming, aggression
and even violence
– Let the child vent his/her emotions
if they do so
– Be unconditionally supportive

17. Dealing with the victims …????
• MEDICAL EXAMINATION
– By a woman doctor for a girl child
– In presence of a parent / ‘person of trust’ or
a ‘woman nominated by the head of medical
institution’ (in the absence of first two)
– Issues of being pregnant or getting an STD
must be addressed

18. Dealing with the victims …????
• ABOVE ALL
– Care
– Compassion
– Empathy
– Be empathetic ….. and your mind will
know and create ways to deal with the
victims.

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•PSYCHIATRY (Brain Ds), DE-ADDICTION, FITS, SEXUAL HEALTH
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