Trigger warning: child sexual abuse
A case of child sexual abuse was recently reported in Mumbai by a 16-year-old. She first reported the case to her teacher and then to the Dharavi Police Station.
The police, during the investigation, found that her father had been raping her for over two years, while her brother had also raped her two years ago. The father (43) and son (20) were arrested.
“The victim claims that she was raped by her father two years ago after he saw her sleeping alone. Similarly, on January 25, 2019, she was raped by her brother, while asleep in their house,” said a police officer.
In this recent case, the child herself came forward to report abuse, but what if the child doesn’t have the courage to report such cases? What if the child feels uncomfortable, but still doesn’t identify themselves to be a victim?
What if the child is confused? What if the child is undergoing mental trauma and unable to share because of the shame they feel?
WHO (World Health Organization) states that:
“Child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that they don’t fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society. Child sexual abuse is evidenced by this activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust, or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person.”
REFERENCES:
- Child Sexual Abuse, WHO.
- Minor girl raped by father, brother in Dharavi; accused arrested. The Free Press Journal.