Making the World Safer for Children: Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Minors

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), though an age-old and widespread
problem, has received universal attention in recent decades prompted
by #MeToo revelations and clerical sexual abuse. Child abuses are of
various kinds and the motivations of abusers vary from the situational
to the pedophilic. CSA happens in almost all contexts, including within
families, neighborhood, and schools. Considering its devastating and
lasting impact on the life of the victims, concerted effort from all
stakeholders is required to counter this moral and social evil. The author
analyzes CSA in the Indian context from different perspectives, such
as psychological, medical, social, and legal angles. Public awareness of
CSA’s prevalence, impact, causes, and possible interventions can pave
way for a lasting systemic change. To face this multifaceted problem, a
multipronged approach at the levels of children, families, institutions,
and society is required. The prevention-intervention model that has
been implemented by the Catholic Church in recent years can serve as
a model worth adapting to various social contexts, for creating a safer
environment for children in the world.