Global report assessing child sexual abuse

The global problem of child sexual abuse was documented in a new report.

 Global report assessing child sexual abuse

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• The story: A report titled the "Global Threat Assessment Report 2021", released by "WeProtect Global Alliance" revealed that Covid-19 had contributed to a significant spike in child sexual exploitation and abuse online. The report outlined the scale and scope of child sexual exploitation and abuse online, as well as an overview of the global response to the issue. WeProtect Global Alliance is a global movement of more than 200 governments, private sector companies and civil society organisations working together to transform the global response to child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
• Highlights: In the past two years, the reporting of child sexual exploitation and online abuse has reached its highest level. Covid-19 created a ‘perfect storm’ of conditions that fuelled a rise in child sexual exploitation and abuse across the globe. According to the Internet Watch Foundation, the rise in child ‘self-generated’ sexual material is another worrying trend. Transgender/non-binary, LGBQ+ and/or disabled were more likely to experience online sexual harms during childhood.
• India: During the pandemic, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicated 106% increase in reports of suspected child sexual exploitation to its global CyberTipline. The NCMEC is a non-profit organization (NGO) established by the United States Congress. During the Covid-19 lockdown in India, there was a 95% rise in searches for child sexual abuse material.
• Problems associated: Child sexual abuse is a multi-layered problem which negatively impacts children’s physical safety, mental health, well-being and behavioural aspects. Mobile and digital technologies have further amplifies child abuse and exploitation. New forms of child abuse like online bullying, harassment and Child Pornography have also emerged.

1. Although Government of India has enacted the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO Act), it has failed to protect child from sexual abuse.
2. The reasons can be related to low conviction rates, judicial delays and general unfriendliness to the child. The rate of conviction under the POCSO act is only about 32% if one takes the average of the past 5 years and the percentage of cases pending is 90%. The Kathua Rape case took 16 months for the main accused to be convicted whereas the POCSO Act clearly mentions that the entire trial and conviction process has to be done in one year. Challenges related to age-determination of the child. Especially laws that focus on biological age and not mental age.

• Initiatives to prevent abuse: There are several - Child Abuse Prevention and Investigation Unit, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Juvenile Justice Act/Care and Protection Act, 2000, Child Marriage Prohibition Act (2006), Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 2016 and Operation Smile.
• Summary: The report calls for prioritising prevention activities against abuse, creating safe online environments for children, besides calling on all with a role to protect children to work together to dramatically improve the response. Developing a comprehensive outreach system to engage parents, schools, communities, NGO partners and local governments as well as police and lawyers to ensure better implementation of the legal framework, policies, national strategies and standards.
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain the long-term problems that arise if child sexual abuse is not controlled and punished. (2) What can parents do to ensure a safe environment for children? Explain.

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