Special teams to combat child sexual abuse soon

Chennai : At the end of a two-year study of sexual abuse of children in the city, and subsequently awareness building in Triplicane, it has been decided to form special protection teams on a pilot basis.The teams will comprise a member from a non-governmental organisation, the police, a social worker, and a doctor from a local government hospital. Once a child complains of sexual abuse, the team will swing into action and take appropriate steps to stop the abuse and act against the abuser, depending on the case.

The presence of a doctor is to provide medical attention to the child who has been abused. "Co-ordinated action will help the children. The team also has to decide on the best way of handling the crisis, which will differ with every case," says Vidya Reddy of Tulir-CPHCSA, who has worked on the project.In 2005, a study done among students in Corporation schools by Tulir-CPHCSA, with support from Save the Children Sweden, on the prevalence and dynamics of child sexual abuse among school going girls and boys in Chennai indicated an alarmingly high rate of 42 per cent, of which "severe" abuse was 15 per cent. The study further revealed that child sexual abuse is not limited to any one class or community group, as it is generally believed.

The study confirmed the known facts about child sexual abuse — it exists but is usually shrouded in secrecy and silence due to a host of factors. Considering the results of the study, it was clearly imperative to find a solution to the problem along with key stakeholders and to promote prevention of abuse and effective redressal.

It also threw into focus another key issue: the children had nowhere to turn to when they were abused. The children who took part in the survey articulated a desire to be taught about sexual abuse; how to recognise it; and protect themselves. Following this, Tulir decided to work with the Chennai Corporation to provide awareness and training for teachers, students, parents and police inspectors of Zone 5."Prevention of child Sexual Abuse through Personal Safety Education is a major activity of the organization, with advocacy, research and documentation, and development of resource material for different stakeholders also being constant endeavours," says Ms. Reddy.

Armed with this knowledge, they embarked on a pilot initiative to take the message to the people in the zone through the schools. About 4,000 children in the primary section, 260 teachers and a large group of parents were roped in and oriented on personal safety issues.Fliers and other publicity material were also distributed. Feedback from the programme showed that participants welcomed the initiative.The third phase of the process would be to build the intervention teams and set them ready for action. The eventual idea is to institutionalise personal safety education within Chennai schools, with the whole hearted involvement of all Corporation and private schools.