According to the data shared by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 99 per cent of crimes reported in 2020 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were against girls. The analysis of the data by the NGO Child Rights and You (CRY) exposed a few grim facts about the state of child sexual abuse in India.
There were reports of 28,327 children who were sexually assaulted in the year 2020, and out of that, 28,058 were girls. Further analysis revealed that most of the child sexual abuse cases were among girls in the age group of 16 to 18, with the number as high as 14,092. This was followed by 10,949 girls in the age group of 12 to 16.
Sexual predators can abuse any child, irrespective of their gender. However, the data found more girls to be victimised sexually. Priti Mahara, the director of policy research and advocacy at CRY, said, “It is vital to understand that along with the protection-related challenges, aspects linked to education, social protection, poverty, etc. also play a significant role in the empowerment of the girl child; and assessing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on these parameters is equally crucial.”
She adds, “During the crises, girls face multiple vulnerabilities—their access to education is further restricted and they become more exposed to the risks of child marriage. They are also more likely to experience violence and sexual exploitation in multiple forms and degrees.” Mahara concluded that the need of the hour is to ensure the implementation of “gender-responsive protection interventions”.
Also read: How Sexual Abuse And Violence Affects A Woman’s Mental Health