Expressing concern over the pending cases of sexual abuse in the country, Bachpan Bachao Andolan founder and Nobel Peace Pirze recipient Kailash Satyarthi on Monday said that it’s a shame for the world’s biggest democracy that people have still not broken their silence on ‘Child Sexual Abuse’.
Considering the social stigma, children are still entangled in this vicious web and the menace of child sexual abuse has spread like plague, he said while addressing the gathering at RIMS Auditorium on Monday.
Satyarthi, along with other dignitaries on the occasion, flagged off ‘Bharat Yatra’ Caravan from Ranchi, disseminating the message of child rights while ensuring the participation of every individual besides increasing the institutional accountability with the support of Government machinery on child abuse.
The child rights activist pointing out on a report published in 2007, said, “The social taboos are so predominant that even after 10 years of the publication of combine report of Government of India (GoI) and UNICEF that suggests 53 per cent of children in India face sexual abuse in some form before they attain the age of 18. Despite this, the government is yet to frame the law to curb child sexual abuse cases.”
On the pending cases that got registered under POSCO Act in 2016, Satyarthi said, “Around 16,000 cases are pending under POSCO Act. If we further bifurcate this, it suggests that in 2016 only in 4 percent cases accused have been convicted while in 6 percent cases offenders are acquitted or have been left and 90 percent cases are lying pending. Considering present situation, it seems that nearly 40 years time is required to dispose of all cases.”
Notably, the ‘Bharat Yatra’ is the launch of the three-year campaign against child sexual abuse and other core issues predominately affecting kids across the nation. Satyarthi urged to all stakeholders to just not take this initiative of Kailash Satyarthi’s Foundation has a regular event but a driving force for compelling the government in framing stringent law against child sexual abuse.
Appreciating the participation of judiciary and prophets in taking the initiative ahead in Ranchi, he said, “For the first time, we have received the support of the members of judiciary and clerics belonging to different religions.”
Satyarthi assured that if stringent laws against child sexual abuse are formulated, it will also have the provision for proper rehabilitation plan. Notably, in spite of several claims, neither the government nor the civil society members have come up with a substantial rehabilitation action plan that ensures all such facilities that aids the survivors in dealing with their distress.
Satyarthi also appealed to the Maoists to keep children away from weapons and other deadly destructive activities. Along with Satyarthi, Governor Draupadi Murmu, Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Dinesh Oraon, JSCPCR Chairperson, Aarti Kujur, Cardinal P. Toppo, Vikash Bharti, Secretary Ashok Bhagat lend their support to this initiative.
The Governor, on the occasion, said that every individual must take up any social cause to eradicate the evils. Also, she said that an individual first need to change their vision, if they intend to transform the society. “It is disheartening to learn that at the tender age when children should concrete on studies, some of them are trapped in the mesh of child labour, domestic help. It is important to create awareness among people regarding child rights. Moral value lessons must be added in the syllabus,” said, the Governor.