Everyone is responsible for an abused child!

Everyone is responsible for an abused child!

( by Bhavya Pundir)

One of the biggest social dilemmas regarding society is child abuse. Child abuse is also known as child maltreatment and it is physical, sexual, or psychological neglect of a child or children especially by a parent or caregiver. It can be any act that psychologically or physically harm the children by a parent or a caregiver and can occur in a child's home, school, workplace, streets, or even at the public places. The most widely endorsed child right instrument worldwide is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) which defines children less than the age of 18 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined "child abuse" as a violation of the human rights of a child. Child abuse can result in causing injury, death, emotional harm, or risk of serious harm to a child. It can have a very deep impact on overall children development and ultimately leads to the following consequences in the children behaviour:-

•  Loss of self-confidence 

• Depression 

• Anxiety 

• Changes in behaviour or school performance 

• Low self-esteem 

According to the survey, around 53% of children in India face some sort of child abuse. Every year the number of cases of child rape and murder is increasing. As the complexities and dynamism of the economic world are increasing day by day, it has on the other hand give rise to a different kind of child abuse. This unlawful Acts laid a deep impact on the child's innocence mind that even the child is not capable of speaking about the awful act committed against him or her. 

Child abuse can be of following types: 

• Physical abuse 

• Sexual abuse 

• Psychological abuse 

• Neglect 

• Emotional abuse 

• Exploitation 

Now the question arises are Indian laws capable to prevent it? 

As per the constitution of India, it contains several laws, provisions for the protection and welfare of the children. Articles 14, 15, 15(3), 19(1)(a),21, 2(a),23, 24, 39(e), 39(f) of the constitution of India contains provisions for the protection, safety, security and well-being of the children as " right to live is the prime right of every child". 

Policies of the Indian government to reduce child abuse. 

Some policies ensuring child rights are 

• National policy on education, 1986 

• National policy on child labour, 1987 

• National health policy, 2002 

• The Indian government is making them-selves capable of preventing child abuse through the enactment of various Acts for the protection and welfare of children such as: 

• Child labour Act, 1986 

This act provides for the protection of the child being worked as the labour and also made penalties and punishment to the employer for employing the child below 14 years of age. 

• The commissions for the protection of child rights Act, 2005 

This Act results in the formation of the constitution of national and state commissions for the protection and welfare of children in every state or union territory. 

• Child marriage Act, 2006 

This Act is enacted in India by the government to stop the rude practices of child marriage. And set the limit of marriages of children at 18 years of age. 

• The prenatal diagnostic technique, 1994 

This is an Act for the regulation and prevention of misuse of the prenatal diagnostic technique used to determine which results in female foeticide. 

• The Juvenile justice Act(J.J), 2015 

Various institutions established under this Act provide for the proper care, protection, and treatment of the child in need and adopt the child-friendly approach to make matters in the interest of children. Section 23, 24, 26 of the Act deals with the provisions of child abuse. 

• Trafficking Act, 1956 

This Act was enacted to keep a check on the activities such as sexual exploitation of children for commercial activities. Child begging Kidnapping a minor for begging is punishable under section 363A of IPC. 

• Protection of children from sexual offences Act (POSCO) 

It was passed by parliament in May 2012. It protects any person below the age of 18 years from sexual exploitation, offences, abuse, sexual harassment, and pornography. 

To conclude, the Indian laws are capable of preventing the child abuse and promotes equality before the law to every person and prohibits biases based on caste, creed, religion, etc. there are many laws in India for protection and welfare of child right what we only need to do is creating the awareness about the laws and provisions available to them.

Disclaimer:-

The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Light de Literacy and LDL does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.