Child rights body to suggest measures against child sexual abuse

Child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will soon recommend to the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry potent and effective measures to prevent sexual abuse of children, an official said on Wednesday.

The NCPCR will be holding a consultation on "Preventive Strategy on Child Sexual Abuse" on Thursday to arrive at holistic solutions to various issues relating to sexual abuse of children.

The official said that the recommendations suggested by the NCPCR would be then considered by the ministry and then necessary steps would be taken.

Last year, the NCPCR had included changes in law and the issue of compensation to the victims, based on suggestions from various stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Change.org has also come up with a petition filed by filmmaker Insia Dariwala, who had brought up the issue of male survivors of child sexual abuse.

According to Change.org, Dariwala's petition drew the support of over 130,000 Indian citizens and he has been asked by the NCPCR to attend the meeting to be held on Thursday.

Change.org also stated that Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development Maneka Gandhi, to whom the petition was addressed, had replied back to the plea through "Decision Maker" response.

"There shall be no tolerance of any form of sexual violence against children and all criminals will be dealt with severe action. My ministry has always taken proactive steps to address different issues concerning child safety. Another much neglected sphere of child sexual abuse is male survivors," a letter to Change.org said.

"Child sexual abuse is gender neutral. Boys who are sexually abused as children spend a lifetime of silence because of the stigma and shame attached to male survivors speaking out. It is a serious problem and needs to be addressed," it added.

--IANS

som/nir