Editor,
The alarming rise in child sexual abuse cases in Arunachal, such as the sex racket cases in Itanagar and Longding where minors were trafficked and exploited, sexual abuse of 21 minor children by their hostel warden, etc, exposes the dark underbelly of the state’s child protection systems.
How many times must we read about neglected, exploited, abused children?
How many innocent children’s lives must be ruined by these perpetrators/paedophiles? How many more heinous crimes against children must we witness before we are moved?
Let’s face it, we are not alone in this fight against child abuse, neglect and exploitation. This is a global epidemic. However, there is absolutely no excuse to not do more to protect every child in our state atleast. Not talking about it will not make it go away. Not reporting child sexual abuse is not only reckless but dangerous and a crime.
Cases of child sexual abuse have been challenging to quantify so to speak, given their sensitive nature and the taboo associated with coming forward in the tribal societies. Global research also suggests that child sexual abuse is perpetrated by a wider group of people, including parents, caregivers, other relatives, siblings, friends, neighbours or others known to the child (such as a sports coach, teacher, religious or authority figures). It’s not just girls, boys are also equally affected.
Many rural areas in Arunachal Pradesh lack adequate access to education and awareness programmes about child sexual abuse. This lack of knowledge can hinder both prevention efforts and the ability of children and families to recognise and report abuse.
Unfortunately, reliable data on child safety issues in Arunachal Pradesh is scarce. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, NGOs and educational institutions are vital to collect data, identify vulnerable communities and develop targeted interventions.
So, what must be done?
The traditional “good touch” and “bad touch” framework, while a starting point, can be limiting. It focuses solely on physical contact, neglecting the complexities of manipulation and coercion.
Its also important to equip children with tools to navigate online dangers. Recent data by TRAI suggests a significant rise in internet users in the state, particularly among young people.
Children can be targeted by online predators who may attempt to groom or exploit them. This necessitates age-appropriate conversations about online safety, cyberbullying, online responsible digital citizenship, explicit or violent content that is not suitable for their age and many more such threats.
You can be a vigilant parent, brother, sister, relative, teacher, etc, monitoring what your children are watching, putting child locks on TV channels and filters on the computer and phones but you can’t control everything. What about their friends’ phones or the things they hear and see at school? Inappropriate or incorrect information can come from anywhere. So, what’s the next best thing to minimise the impact of what they see or hear? The answer is simple – teachable moments via conversations.
Our traditional tribal societies often place a high value on family honour and reputation. The fear of bringing shame upon the family can deter victims from disclosing abuse. Additionally, cultural taboos surrounding sexuality and bodily autonomy can make it difficult for children to understand and articulate what constitutes abuse.
Experts suggest that the best strategy is to begin conversations about sex and sexuality early and continue as your child grows. This way, you can avoid inadvertently treating it like a milestone moment when they reach their adolescence which may be awkward or confusing because they may think they already have the information and won’t be receptive. Encouraging open conversations about the body gives them the language they need to discuss when something may go wrong. That could be an injury and ailment or an unsafe touch or behaviour.
When we avoid naming things for what they are, it creates a shroud of fear and shame. Children may create negative associations with these body parts. Even as adults, we often miss the signals and emotions our body is stirring up when we go into stress mode. We must also explain the sense of fear and what being unsafe feels like to children.
Many perpetrators confuse and manipulate children, they try to normalise sexual acts. We must teach our kids to acknowledge their signs of fear in various scenarios and encourage them to talk about experiences that may have caused them.
Collaborating with tribal leaders and elders to develop culturally appropriate strategies for addressing child sexual abuse while respecting traditional values and practices can be a way forward too along with conducting educational programs in schools, communities and religious institutions to promote the understanding of child sexual abuse and encourage open communication. Creating safe spaces for children to report abuse without fear of judgment or retribution. This can involve training teachers, healthcare providers and community leaders to recognize signs of abuse and respond appropriately.
I sincerely hope it never comes to this.
A progressive society ought at the very least, call out its wrongs, however ugly, especially its crimes against the most vulnerable – the children.
K Riba