Know What is Child Sexual Abuse - Unsafe Touch & Unsafe Actions

In a perfect world, the words child and abuse would never be used together. But the world we live in is far from perfect. Millions of children around the world are exposed to physical, emotional and sexual violence every year. According to the UNICEF, more than one in four children worldwide experience severe and frequent physical abuse, while one in 5 girls and one in 11 boys experience child sexual abuse (CSA). But if we want to protect our children from this trauma, it is very important to arm ourselves with the right information. In this blog, the first of our series, we tell you what is child sexual abuse.

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

According to the WHO, sexual abuse is inappropriate sexual behaviour with a child. It includes fondling a child's genitals, making the child fondle the adult's genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism and sexual exploitation. To be considered ‘child abuse’, these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of a child (for example a baby-sitter, a parent, or a daycare provider), or related to the child. If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely by the police and criminal courts.

World estimates show that 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 have been subjected to forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence.
But, contrary to popular misconception, child sexual abuse does not necessarily involve physical contact with a child. Like mentioned above, any sort of inappropriate behavior too falls under CSA. Read: READ: 10 Ways To Teach Child To Protect Them From Molestation, Child Assault  

Contact abuse or Unsafe Touch includes

1. Touching, fondling, caressing, kissing the child's body parts including her/his genitals
2. Having the child touch, caress, fondle, kiss the body parts or genitals of the adult
3. Masturbating the child
4. Inserting finger, tongue, penis or any other object in the child’s mouth, vagina or anus.
5. Forced sexual intercourse or rape that includes both vaginal and or anal penetration.

Non-contact abuse or Unsafe Actions includes

1. Following or stalking a child
2. Using sexually suggestive language with the child that includes lewd comments about the child or her/his body parts, stories or songs with a sexual overtone, sexual innuendos
3. Showing the child pornographic material - pictures, films, videos or taking the child's pictures in semi-nude or nude state or in sexually suggestive postures
4. Watching the child undress, bathe, urinate or defecate or forcing the child to do all this in the presence of the adult
5. Masturbating in front of the child
6. Exhibiting one's genitals in front of the child or asking the child to do the same

The Extent of Child Sexual Abuse in India : Facts File

While a majority of us still live in denial, child sexual abuse is a widespread dark reality in our country. In 2007, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) released a study report with some very important findings about child sexual abuse that every parent and caregiver needs to know:

1. Children between the ages of 5-12 are at the highest risk for abuse and exploitation.
2. 53.22% children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse.
3. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi reported the highest percentage of sexual abuse among both boys and girls.
4. 21.90% child respondents reported facing severe forms of sexual abuse and 50.76% other forms of sexual abuse.
5. Children on street, children at work and children in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault.
6. 50% abuses are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility.
7. Most children did not report the matter to anyone.

Though this data is indeed very worrying for a parent, the fact is that it is true and that we need to protect our children from this trauma. Parentune, urges all parents to keep their children safe, by arming themselves with the right information and also educating their children about it.