Sexual assaults on children, women: the battle has to be won in homes, schools, streets, communities

News headlines can sometimes assault your senses. And when a newspaper carries an almost banner headline announcing ‘12 cases of sexual assault on children, women in 24 hours shock Chennai’, it can certainly upset the start of your day. That was how I felt today after seeing the headline in The Times of India. The story could have probably been carried at the bottom of the page. After all, families who continue to buy a newspaper (a recent Reuters study has confirmed what many of us know: today’s generation and even elders prefer to get news via social media, not by reading the newspaper) will have adults as well as children scanning the pages. What impressions might such banner headlines make, I wonder!

Let us now come to the issue – sexual harassment and assault. Why are more and more such crimes being reported daily? The news report I am referring to mentions a three-year-old girl being raped and murdered, and seven other minor girls and four women sexually assaulted in and around Chennai, all during the course of 24 hours. There is another story online of a man assaulting a woman with mental disabilities. We have become worse than animals and, obviously, in many such cases the police cannot take care of us.

The POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, a landmark law some would say, which came into effect in November 2012, has hardly been effective. Some of the major shortcomings are delay in trials and low conviction rates. What about children who may have to recount their experiences in courts and elsewhere that lack infrastructure suitable for such recounting? Yes, the POCSO Act has helped bring child sexual abuse to the fore, into the criminal justice system, and pushed more reporting, but child-sensitive justice is still miles away. For the benefit of readers, I must say that the POCSO Act recognises that children require a distinct and comprehensive legal framework for protection against sexual offences. The Act protects all children below 18 years regardless of gender. It provides for special courts to hear cases and prescribes stringent punishment for offenders (which we do not get to see on the ground). I must also add that the POCSO Act fills some earlier gaps – limited definition of rape, no gender neutrality, no specific offences for CSA such as inappropriate touching, lack of child-friendly procedures and inadequate punishments.

So, how can the administration ensure that fewer crimes occur in the first place? The government of the day has to speak to the society at large. I think educating children (about inappropriate behaviour, safe use of social media, how to seek help, etc), having a sustained public awareness campaign and implementing laws strictly can make a difference. Certainty of punishment can be a deterrent. Investigations must be completed within timelines. Ensure that all POCSO courts are functional. The government must work with schools, colleges, resident welfare associations, parents’ groups and local bodies. It is not just about providing better lighting at night but also to ensure that there is adequate security in malls and other places, including in elevators (a case in a lift in a mall was reported a day ago). Every institute (schools/ colleges included) must have child protection policies, verification of staff, and internal complaint mechanisms. And, of course, we need a responsible media that reports with utmost sensitivity.

The BIGGEST challenge lies in changing the attitude of men – towards women and children. The government can and must play the major role. We often talk about Mother India or Bharat Mata, referring to a divine figure that unifies and protects. But we have not been able to provide protection and safety to our women and children. We have the legal framework and the administrative machinery. So, what is lacking? Political will? I don’t think so. All political parties will be on the same page as far as zero tolerance of sexual violence is concerned. We have to win the battle in homes, schools, streets and communities, and nurture love and respect for every child and woman. But when will we earnestly begin?

 

Image: AI-generated