Shadow over Kerala’s children: Ending the abuse epidemic

Cases of child sexual abuse in Kerala have reached alarming proportions, with 4,663 cases reported under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act in 2023 alone, highlighting significant gaps in the state’s interventions to protect children.

While not denying that heightened legal awareness and reporting mechanisms brought these crimes to light, the rising numbers underscore the urgent need for a multi-pronged approach to tackle the issue.

Addressing these gaps requires strengthening student counselling, ensuring safety measures, and increasing parental awareness.

Schools must take proactive steps, including regular awareness sessions, tele-counseling services, open forums for dialogue, teacher training programmes, and parental education initiatives, to create an environment where children feel empowered to speak up, seek help, and thrive.

The report

It was in the annual report of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights that the grim picture of child sexual abuse in the state unravelled.

Out of 4,701 child abuse survivors documented in 2023, an overwhelming 85 percent (3,972) were girls, while boys accounted for 14 percent (659).

The gender identity of 70 children (1%) was not specified.

The data lays bare the heightened vulnerability of girls to sexual abuse and calls for targeted interventions to address this societal issue.

The report also came out with the startling finding that the abuse most often happens within familiar circles.

Relationship status of perpetrators

• 17 percent of perpetrators were acquaintances.
• 13 percent were neighbours.
• 9percent were family members, while 9 percent were other relatives.
• Alarmingly, 14 percent of the accused were individuals in romantic relationships with the survivors.
• Teachers, trusted figures in society, accounted for 4 percent of the perpetrators.

This highlights the uncomfortable reality that the majority of abuse cases occur within the child’s trusted social circle, shattering the belief that “stranger danger” is the primary risk.

Unsafe ‘homes’

The crime locations in 2023 reflect another shocking aspect of this crisis.

A fifth of the cases (988) occurred in the children’s own homes, which are presumed to be their safest spaces.

Public places accounted for 20% (935) of cases, and crimes in schools (173), vehicles (130), and even religious institutions (73) reveal the pervasive nature of abuse.

Age and vulnerability

The age-wise data of survivors shows that older children are particularly vulnerable:

• 54 percent of survivors were aged 15-18 years.
• 32 percent were between 10-14 years.

It is also shocking to note that two percent of survivors were less than four years, indicating that even toddlers are not spared.

The data underscores the collective failure of parents, guardians, teachers, police, and society at large to ensure the safety of children.

The lack of robust systems to address children’s safety needs and the failure to provide age-appropriate awareness contribute to the perpetuation of this crisis.

‘CSE need of the hour’

Talking against the backdrop of the report, Anson PD Alexander, founder of Kanal NGO , an NGO that spearheads comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) among children in the state, said that equally concerning is the shadow of unreported sexual abuse.

“Children, due to fear, stigma, or lack of understanding, fail to recognise or disclose that they have been subjected to abuse. Parents, too, may refrain from reporting incidents because of societal pressure or inadequate awareness,” he said.

And further added, “This silent crisis highlights the urgent need for creating safe spaces and mechanisms for children to articulate their experiences and for parents to overcome barriers that prevent them from seeking justice and support for their children.”

Anson also highlighted the need for CSE.

“CSE creates a safe space for children to talk about their bodies, emotions, and experiences, reducing the fear of stigma if they need to report abuse. By learning the difference between safe and unsafe touches, children are better equipped to identify inappropriate behaviour. It also educates children about their right to control their own bodies and reinforces that no one is allowed to touch them without their consent,” said Anson.

According to a counsellor with the Social Justice Department, by imparting CSE, children are made aware of manipulative behaviours often used by abusers, such as offering gifts or secrets, enabling them to recognize and resist such tactics.

“Children who receive CSE are more likely to disclose abuse and less likely to fall victim to manipulation because of their awareness and confidence in seeking help. Most importantly it teaches a child that abuse is never their fault and it helps prevent feelings of guilt or shame that often prevent victims from seeking help,” said the counsellor, who didn’t want to be named.

What Project X found

With Project X heading to the third phase, they shared some of its findings.

One major finding was that a significant number of students are either unaware of the presence of school counsellors or are too intimidated to approach them. This disconnect hinders the very purpose of counselling, which is to provide emotional and psychological support.

Another finding is that in private discussions following the sessions, many children recounted experiencing inappropriate behaviour during their younger years, often before they could discern right from wrong.

These accounts emphasise the urgent need for preventive measures and safe reporting mechanisms in schools.

“What we saw in the majority of the cases is that a child experienced his/her first sexual abuse when they were in between second standard and sixth standard. The age is between seven and thirteen. This highlights the need for CSE,” said Anson.

Lack of open forums

The concern also underscored the lack of open forums where children can seek clarity on sensitive issues. As a result, many rely on their peers for guidance, which often leads to misinformation.

Establishing platforms where students can address their doubts with trusted adults could play a pivotal role in improving their understanding and decision-making.

The report also stressed the importance of follow-up sessions in resolving ongoing issues faced by students. Additionally, setting up POCSO cells in schools was recommended as a proactive measure to prevent sexual violence and provide immediate support for victims.

A key revelation was the communication gap between children and their parents. Many children feel they cannot speak openly with their parents due to misconceptions or a lack of understanding about sensitive topics.

Training programs for parents could help bridge this gap, fostering a safer and more supportive home environment for children.

The data is a stark reminder that to address the societal stigma and silence that often shroud these crimes, a multi-pronged strategy and collective responsibility — by parents, educators, law enforcement, and the broader community — is needed.

To safeguard the future of children, an immediate, sustained action is the need of the hour.

(published in South First - Kerala’s child abuse epidemic demands a collective response - The South First )