Child Abuse in India

Abstract

Child abuse is harm to, or neglect of, another person's child, whether adult or child. Child abuse occurs across all cultural, ethnic, and income groups. Child violence may be physical, mental-visual, verbal or insensitive. Abuse can cause the child to suffer serious injuries and may also result in death. Rapture, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment are issues of gender violence worldwide that are only beginning to come to light in India. In India there is very little research done in this area and only a few books have been written, keeping the subject even further away from the country's consciousness. The problem persists with staggering incidence, however, and unique profile of Indians adds to the complexity of an already difficult subject. Fortunately, the issue of child sexual abuse is slowly becoming a more recognized issue, and this paper will focus much on sexual abuse against minor children: the laws, victims, and perpetrators for this reason. Finally, an analysis will be presented on the aspects of Indian culture which make this issue particularly difficult to understand and to cope with.