Wednesday 4 June 2014

Saving kids from the Monsters.



 53% of Indian kids suffer from some form of sexual abuse. 53% of those are boys.
Bringing to the fore many such shocking facts about child sexual abuse is the recently launched book titled ‘A New Normal – Understand. Prevent. Heal.-winning the battle against child sexual abuse’ The key partners in this initiative include Podar Education Network, Early Childhood Association, Yowoto parenting website among others.  What’s best about this book is – it’s contemporary, offers practical solutions, and educates parents, teachers and relatives. One of the key topics discussed are the prevalent myths that have existed in our society from time immemorial. Here’s a lowdown:
1)    Only strangers abuse children- One of the biggest hidden truths of India is that people known to the children abuse them. In more than 50% of such cases, the accused is someone very close to the family. Recently it has been found that in many instances, the child’s father is the abuser.
2)    Only men sexually abuse children- Though in most cases, the male gender is the abuser lot, there have been many instances where women too have sexually exploited children.
3)    Child sexual abuse happens only in the poor strata of the society- This menace has not restricted to any class, caste, religion or educational barriers. It occurs irrespective of what the background of the abuser and the child is.
Why people don’t talk and discuss openly about good touch bad touch.
·         The main reason is that parents think that child abuse especially sexual abuse cannot happen to urban children or ‘my’ child.
·         Parents of very young children feel that because kids are too young to understand about ‘sexual abuse’, it will not happen to them.
·         Also when it does happen, parents go into denial and refuse to acknowledge or report about it. More often than not it is a friend of the family or a relative or an older cousin and hence the fear of family feuds and incase it is a worker like servant, driver, etc then the social stigma is what parents are worried about.
·         The book helps a parent understand the myths related to child sexual abuse, how to handle if you are in doubt, how to teach kids about good touch bad touch and why to teach them and incase if they want to report about the abuse then how to go about it.
·         Parents are fine if the school teaches about it but are little embarrassed to talk to the child about it.It is for this reason that the preschools and daycares have a greater responsibility and should teach about good touch bad touch to the kids.
·         If young kids can learn about red light, green light and other traffic songs when they are not going to cross the road or drive then it is important to teach them about body safety after all they are learning about body parts/.
·         Let us not  refer to it as ‘sex education’ but call it ‘body intelligence’.

And why has child abuse become an unaddressed problem.
·         Because young kids thrive on touch (it is their primary need for socio-emotional and brain stimulation) they are the easiest targets.
·         It is easy for the perpetrators as kids won’t tell! They lack the language development. And even if they do, parents won’t believe, ‘they are lying, imagining things’.
·         Even if parents find out about it, they are unaware about the law or fear the law, and so this book that tells them that they can come to organizations like us and we will help them maintain the anonymity and yet get the justice.
·         The book educates parents about the legal clause that no one can quote or report the child’s name or other details.
·         Press too should maintain the anonymity. Some times newspapers write about the name of the school or the building and the social stigma starts.
·         Because these perverts are never brought to book, they continue to do so.
·         Parents also need to stop spanking and threatening children as part of their parenting style. Because research has shown that these abusers usually use some form of ‘threatening’ to make kids keep quiet about it.
·         The ‘ostrich’ attitude of ‘if I don’t acknowledge it, it does not happen’ needs to stop and only then will touch never become trouble for another child.
Download the book free from yowoto.com or jumbokids.com/downloads or buy a copy from ecaorg@yahoo.com, proceeds will be donated for CSA awareness.

29 comments:

Arwah Dalal said...

Thanks alot Ma'am for the wonderful and an opener article for many...
I feel that much of the problem stems from the lack of education being provided to family members to actually interact with their children and engage them in a conversation about good touch and bad touch
If we do not ask or talk to our children about bad touch, we are depriving them of the opportunity to let us know if they are being abused by someone.

Anonymous said...

Once again an Important article by Ms Vats -by educating the public and providing community members and employees with information, it is hopeful that we can prevent the loss of a child’s life and continue to protect them from harmful situations like Child Abuse .
I urge to all readers please share this blog with all as we all can help in increase awareness on the importance of child abuse prevention efforts! It’s important to educate the community about the harms of child abuse and the value of preventing it. We should do all we can to prevent child abuse and support its victims. Every child, regardless of traumatic experiences, has the potential to grow up to be a happy, productive and responsible adult.

Unknown said...

Thanks a lot ma'am for an informative article, which has been categorically addressed , which makes the learning easier for the people in society who are not aware about the facts which can lead to abuse, or might be causing an abuse.
The article not only highlights the causes but even tells solutions to prevent them.It is spreading the most needed awareness which is the need of the hour, as cases of sexual abuses are increasing in the society.

Anonymous said...

AWARENESS NEEDS A SPREAD!!!

Child sexual abuse has gained public attention in the past few decades and has become one of the most high-profile crimes. Since the 1970s the sexual abuse of children and child molestation has increasingly been recognized as deeply damaging to children and thus unacceptable for society as a whole. While sexual use of children by adults has been present throughout history, it has only become the object of significant public attention in recent times.

Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot Ma'am for the wonderful and informative article.

Unknown said...

Really an eye opening article on child abuse.Though India in on the path of development in various fileds.But still horrible abuse cases occurs every now and then.
It is very essential to aware kids about good touch and bad touch at very young age which will help to the child to secure his life.This book should reach to each and every corner of the world to aware and to stop happening of such cases.

Anonymous said...

A knowledgable article at the most appropriate time. As it is the vacation time, children and adults are in holiday mood and tend to meet many strangers as well as relatives who meet once a year. Trusting anybody blindfoldly may give a platform to sexual abuse and hence an alarming article will surely be of help. Moreover the article is showing both the sides of coins...........that is Men as well as female abusers, causes as well as prevention measures........
A must read and to be widely promoted article!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the wonderful article ma'am, It is our prime duty to spread the word in the society and try to reach as many as parents and children with Good touch bad touch, This academic session my target to reach the maximum number of children should be educated with Good touch bad touch,

Unknown said...

Really this article shows how are people in our community never no what may a child face good touch bad touch can help himself if the child is trained we will share this article.

Unknown said...

Yet again an eye opener article. A need of an hour is to educate people and help in spreading awareness amongst all.

Unknown said...

"Thank you ma'am for a wonderful article which is a need of an hour.This article not only give a message of good touch and bad touch to parents and teachers and public,but also it specified how to communication between adults and child.
So l will spread the message of Good touch and bad touch in my city and also to stop threatening and spanking the child

shilpa said...
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Sonali Karmakar said...

Thank you ma'am for spreading awareness of good touch bad touch amongst all... Child abuse is a very important topic which should be openly discussed... Saving kids from monsters should be our goal...

shilpa said...
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shilpa said...
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shilpa said...
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Unknown said...

Mam....thank u for the informative article....we parents need such a guidance time to time. It really creates an awareness among us, of what actually is going on , in our society. Through PJK my child has learnt what is good touch n bad touch. Thank u.

Uma Nagdeo said...

A very Important article we must educate our society from prevention of child abuse and its very important to create an awareness for the same.

Unknown said...

Thank You Mam for a wonderful article which again is one for educating the social public which do not even think of such aspects .It will help everyone to understand the importance of child abuse and its safety measures also.

jayshree shah said...
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jayshree shah said...

Your article about child abuse is bringing awareness in society about child abuse which is worst & burning issue of the day.Your pointers about prevalent Myths that exist in society are very important to stop the child abuse.I specially liked the point teaching about body safety as we are learning about body parts is best to avoid child abuse & a helping hand is provided by our organization for victims to get Justice if needed .
last but not the least Touch should never become trouble for the child anymore.

Ankita Suchak said...

Thank you ma`am for the Book " A New NORMAL"It's an informative and an eye opener book with all the solutions.It's a need of time to spread awareness in society.

Unknown said...

Thank you ma'am for giving us new term ‘body intelligence’rather then referring ‘sex education’.As in our society though people are aware but they feel ashamed to use and teach their children about sex education .But i think the term "Body Intelligence" will bring a revolution and parents will definitely accept this valuable article with a positive mindset.Thank You Ma'am as always.

Unknown said...

Feel proud to be a part of Ma'am's team in spreading the knowledge of healthy living both physically and mentally to the kids who come to us.

Thank you Ma'am

Unknown said...

This is really an informative article given by you madam. Thanks a lot for bringing awarness among us. We will definately share this blog and try to bring about change in the society.

Uma Wagh PJK Jalgaon said...

Ma'am you always give lot imp. to child safety & now it's time to educate community about the harms of child abuse.

Thank you for sharing ...

Kulashree Pathe said...

' Child Abuse' such a sensitive topic and people scruple of talking about it. Thank you mam for bringing it as a knowledge for us to understand how and why it is important to teach about good touch and bad touch.

Unknown said...

A very important article in view of child safety and awareness for parents to talk. Stand for self esteem of their children.

Unknown said...

An important topic so beautifully encapsulated. Teachers and parents need to be aware,notice and voice out if need be for the child.Thank you maam for sharing an important information.