Indian Research On Child Sexual Abuse

A few research reports highlighting regional and national trends on child sexual abuse in India.

Report of Study on the working of Special Courts under the POCSO Act
2016

The detailed study published in 2016 looked at the Special Courts under POCSO act. The study presents and analyses the existing structures and procedures followed by the Special Courts in Delhi while dealing with cases of sexual offences against children. It also highlights findings based on analysis of key judgments and the challenges within the courtrooms.
Click here to read the full Report

A Comparative Analysis of The Laws & Procedures dealing with sexual offences against children in common law countries
2015

The report focuses on legislative and procedural responses of four common law countries – India, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom in the face of child sexual abuse. It compares Indias position to those of the other countries and highlights the legal mechanisms in these other countries. Age of Consent, Mandatory Reporting, CSA Trials, Victim Compensation and Counselling are the key areas of focus of the report.
Click here to read the full Report

Pursuing This Thing Called ‘Justice’: A survivor centric approach towards victims of sexual violence.
2015

Survivor support program ‘RAHAT’, a collaboration between Department of Women & Child Development, Maharashtra and Mumbai-based NGO Majlis followed up on 644 FIRs reporting sexual violence, filed between August 2008 and July 2015 by the Mumbai Police. Some of the significant findings that emerge include-  In 74% of cases, the victims were minor. Girl children between 11-18 form 51% of the cases. In 91% of cases the accused was a known person of which the majority were ‘acquaintances’ of victim and family. In case of Sexual assault within the family, fathers/step-fathers constituted 46% of cases. In 45% cases, the abuse was of a continuous nature as opposed to 38% single incidents. In 60% cases, the sexual assault took place in the home of the victim. In 40% cases, the complainant was the victim themselves and in 38% cases it was the mother or father of the victim. 212 judgments were analysed for the report of which 61% resulted in acquittal and 32% in conviction. 7% were convicted on a lesser change.
Click here to read the full highlights of the report.

Rescue and Remedy: A Process Documentation of Psychotherapy with Children in Institutions
2015

For the last five years, Arpan has been conducting long term psychotherapeutic work with rescued minors living in institutions. Through sustained individual therapy and group sessions, the girls they work with have made a transformation towards healing and self-actualization. This research aims towards provide a model of psychotherapeutic intervention for working with children who have survived trauma and abuse. The outcome is a detailed documentation of the process of change that uses case studies, statistics, best practices, how-tos and to-dos to remarkable effect.
Click here to read the full report.

‘Between the lines: An Analysis on Media Reportage on Child Sexual Abuse’
2014

Mumbai based NGO, Arpan conducted an analysis of media reports of child sexual abuse that appeared in 4 leading English language newspapers in Mumbai. Among other data the findings highlighted the disproportionate focus on criminal justice system which overlooked other significant components of preventive and rehabilitative aspects of CSA.
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‘Breaking the Silence: Child Sexual Abuse in India’
2013

The Human Rights Watch Report “Breaking the Silence” presents a dismal picture of child protection in the country particularly when it comes to preventing sexual abuse of minors within homes, schools and institutions. A comprehensive 82 page report, complete with case studies and expert comments, it proves beyond doubt the existence of child sexual abuse across classes. Highlighting inaction against the perpetrators, Human Rights Watch revealed that child sexual abuse in homes, schools and institutions for care and protection of children is quite common. They further stress that a government appointed committee in January 2013 itself found that the government child protection schemes, “have clearly failed to achieve their avowed objective.
Click here to read the full Report

‘India’s Hell Holes: Child Sexual Assault in Juvenile Justice Homes’
2013

Asian Center for Human Rights in its report, “India’s Hell Holes: Child Sexual Assault in Juvenile Justice Homes” states that sexual offences against children in India have reached an epidemic proportion and a large number of them are being committed in the juvenile justice homes run and aided by the Government of India. The report highlights 336% increase in child rape cases between 2001 & 2011. 48338 cases of child rape were reported during the decade.
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Status of Child Welfare Committees in India
2013

The report is the first ever qualitative analysis on the functioning of the CWCs in India. It presents the existing CWC field realities, providing key insights into the system’s strengths, gaps and challenges, and is largely based on seven State studies across Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Click here to read the full Report

Dignity on Trial
2010

This Human Rights Watch report highlightis Indias need for sound standards for conducting and interpreting forensic examination of rape survivors. The report in detail cites examples from medico legal reports from hospitals across the country and highlights the discrepancies in the same. It categorically points out the brutal practices that are still followed in the hospitals during medical examination that violate the privacy and dignity of victims of sexual violence.
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‘Study on Child Abuse – India’
2007

The Ministry of Women and Child Welfare India, initiated a nationwide survey on Child Abuse, of 125000 children in thirteen states. Of the children interviewed, more than half 53% said that they had been subjected to one or more forms of sexual abuse. Over 20% of those interviewed said they were subjected to severe forms of abuse. Of those who said they were sexually abused, 57% were boys.
Click here to read the full Report

‘Doesn’t Every child count: Study on prevalence and dynamics on Child Sexual Abuse in Chennai’
2006

Chennai based Tulir-Centre for Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse conducted a study among 2211 school going children in Chennai. The report indicates a CSA prevalence rate of 42%. Children of all socio-economic groups were found to be equally vulnerable. While 48% of boys reported to have been abused, the prevalence rate among girls was 39%. 15% of both the boys and girls were severely abused.
Click here to read the full Report

‘Voices from the Silent Zone – Women’s Experiences of Incest and Child Sexual Abuse’
1998

The Delhi based NGO Recovery and Healing from Incest (RAHI) conducted India’s first study of child sexual abuse. It surveyed 600 English-speaking middle and upper-class women, 76 percent of whom said they had been abused in childhood or adolescence, 40 percent by at least one family member, most commonly an uncle or cousin.
To access the research report please visit Rahi Foundation website or write to them.