When India implemented Pocso Act 2012It opened the sobs of children who suffer in silence. Previously suppressed voices of children across the country, and revealed the hypocrisy behind the public facade of the honorary facade and the thin reality behind closed doors.
According to the information in the Rajyasabha on July 25, 2024 by Shri. Arjun Ram MeghwalA total of 299,759 Pocso cases were registered as part of the law in the country. The sheer number of cases is proof of the effective implementation of the law. However, it also opens up debates about prevailing uncertainties related to protection, prevention and consciousness for the problem.
When a media report on sexual abuse (CSA) of children (CSA) in public outrage over the moral negligence of the perpetrator often follows a strong punishment. What closes between these exhibitions of justice is the life of the victim that goes beyond the unfortunate experience. For example, think of the emotional trauma with which a child is burdened, or the social stigma that is associated with any form of sexual abuse. Unfortunately, this is not all that the body of the survivor has the effects of abuse. In most cases, however, our knowledge of the health effects of CSA is very bad.
A problem of public health
Freud was short, but the first to look at the effects of sexual abuse of children on the intellectual well -being of survivors. Over a century later, WHO Identifies CSA as a humanitarian crisis that detects children around the world. Accordingly UNICEFWorldwide, more than 370 million girls and women are victims of sexual attacks than children. Africa south of the Sahara has the highest number of victims, followed by eastern and Southeast Asia. The number of victims in Central and South Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, Caribbean, North Africa, West Asia and Oceania is no less. Imagine such a large majority of future generations that live in pain, fear and fear.
The mere volume of the victims also means a heterogeneity of psychological, physical and social effects of CSA. No two children may have consequences in a similar way. Since most of such acts under dictations of taboo are disguised in confidentiality and do not exist, generalized conclusions to draw their effects on the survivors.
Reproductive health follows of sexual abuse of children
Reproductive health cannot be discussed in isolation from the psychological and social well -being of a person. Mental damage affects physical health, which in turn influences social well -being. The Australian Institute for Health and WellbeingThe website offers insights into the correlation between CSA and its effects on mental health, the behavior of the health risk and the long -term effects on women. Anxiety disorders, depression and post -traumatic stress disorders are widespread in the survivors of the CSA. Some survivors could Experience eating disordersFear fear and could hike in self -harm without adequate intervention.
Immediate physical effects of CSA can encompass injuries to private individuals, pain and even bleeding in the event of severe sexual abuse. In the long run, surviving sexual dysfunction, gynecological problems, sexually transmitted diseases or an early start of puberty and birth complications can have. Many women with CSA experience experience a number of sexual functional disorders. This includes sexual arousal disorders, difficulties in navigating desire, influenced by shame, guilt and less positive body image and self -esteem. These will have a direct influence on their social life, which means that they show a sudden withdrawal and isolation.
Central to these effects is a complete rejection of reproductive rights. How difficult it will be for a data subject to start (or not) to start or continue pregnancy and to access a contraceptive measure and reproductive health services?
MTP, Pocso and a legal swamp
In India, CSA and reproductive health are often discussed in legal quarters when undesirable or unintentional pregnancy comes to light. IMplications of the Pocso law in India on the sexuality of young people: a directive letter Offers a clear picture of the legal puzzle, which of the gray areas in the Pocso law, the question of sexual autonomy of young people and the question of how they contradict Article 21 of the constitution. A child is enforced by an endless struggle for access to the right health services that are unevenly distributed in the country. Have to return MTP Act is a step back from the jump that Pocso has taken with regard to children’s rights.
Last year alone, newspapers were scattered with different judgments. In 2024, the Supreme Court of India returned its previous judgment and granted a 14-year-old girl to further designate her pregnancy. According to a report by the Hindu in November 2024, the bench of the Kerala High Court Division allowed the medical termination of the pregnancy of a 16-year-old girl. Media report on several cases in which the judges rejected the termination of pregnancy from smaller girls who crossed the 20 weekly times. Another investigation into the matter shows that parents and minors are only looking for medical help at a later date.
The story is often: “Minor girls with severe abdominal pain delivers baby” or “ignorant of pregnancy until an underage girl is looking for a termination too late”. It is confusing how a child of 12 years of pregnancy and associated health complications could hide for so long without the knowledge of adults in their lives. What goes behind closed doors of normative families could be a discussion about shame, stigma, fear and honor. How much autonomy and agency are assigned to the minors is up for debate in such contexts.
In such cases in which the criminal laws with the constitutional provisions of loggerheads are located, the legal disputes remain the matter of deciding the matter that takes into account the peculiarities of everyone. However, it is precarious to be dependent on the myth of neutrality in judgments if there are sufficient stories that say something else. Obviously there is no general consensus about these legal questions. However, it is very likely that a girl is forced to wear pregnancy with moral, religious and ethical dikes and promises of marriage to save some families. The possibilities are endless. It is the responsibility of the state and the legal system to ensure that the girl has autonomy over her body. This seems to be a Herculean task in a heterogeneous tradition -bound society like us.
Reproductive health care in India
The Indian government is increasing to meet the needs of millions of children. Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram The 2014 introduced 2014 begins to improve the sexual and reproductive health of children over 10 years. The reduction in the number of pregnancies in teenage is also an objective RKKSK. School health program In conjunction with the National Rural Health Mission, it aims to provide children, including safe menstrual hygiene practices, age -appropriate information.
National Family Health Survey recorded that 38.5 Lakh youthful girls made 2023-24 accessible every month. By setting up young friendly health clinics in various sectors of public health centers, young people could have 1.37 Crore access to health services in the 2023-24 financial year alone.
While the numbers are definitely heartwarming, but do we do enough? It seems high time to scale the current initiatives so that many do not slide through the cracks in the system.
The way forward with surviving sexual abuse of children
CSA is a silent pandemic that influences the future of humanity. It is high time that we recognize its scope and grip in our lives. The implementation of more research on the interfaces of CSA and reproductive health is important to form extended political framework conditions, intervention programs and a comprehensive educational curriculum.
If your path crosses with a survivor next time, need help, try to hear her and show some sympathy. If possible, help you to access adequate health care.
