The Campaign against Child Sexual Abuse and Trafficking (CACST) organised a one-day consultation with different stakeholders here on May 28 to reduce child sexual abuse and trafficking.
The speakers informed that nearly 50 lakh children in the age group of 0-6 years are vulnerable to sexual abuse. The next age group is 6-14 year of age, which is highly vulnerable. There are nearly 68 lakh children out of which nearly 34 lakh are girls, they said, adding that no study has been done in Odisha on child sexual abuse.
A study had been conducted by the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department of the Centre in 2005 in 13 States on child abuse situation. The study report is on their web site. It reports that 53.22 per cent children face one or more forms of sexual abuse. Nearly 36 lakh children in Odisha faced sexual abuse among which 52.94 per cent are boys and 47.06 per cent are girls.
The speakers demanded that the State should conduct a study akin to the Centre to know the ground situation. All hostels should be given a lady superintendent. All schools should have at least one female teacher. There should be raid on unauthorized short stay homes/ hostels/orphanages from time to time to ensure child protection. There should be awareness building among PRIs on the aspect through the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). The work places such as brick kilns, industries and major construction sites should be raided by the police from time to time where children are employed. Hotels, holiday homes and tour operators should be taken to task to stop Child Sex Tourism.
Unregistered hotels, lodges, tour operators and guides should be forced to register within a time frame. Trafficking should be fully checked and the Home Department should bring a special paper on action taken against trafficking each year. Child marriage should be stopped through education and awareness.
The enforcement of the new Act (The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) should be monitored on early basis. Child Desk should be made fully operational in all police stations, while the Government should bring out a “Policy Paper on Children” in line with the Centre. CACST convener lalit Mishra, co- convener Sadasiv Swain, trade union leader Mahendra Parida, human rights activists Pradipta Nayak, Gouranga Mohaptra, D Swruparani, Manoj Sahu and Bijya laxmi Routray, among others participated.