Bitter Chocolate

I know its not a very pleasant topic to post about but its the truth, lets face it....

I was reading this book the " the kiterunner" where I come across this little boy (Sohrab) who is a victim of CSA (Child Sexual Abuse) in the war ravaged Afghanistan. It was on the whole a very touching book. But it reminded me of another work called " bitter chocolate" by Pinki Virani which deals with child sexual abuse in India.

Based on studies, reports and investigation, "Bitter Chocolate" reveals that a minimum of twenty per cent of girls and boys under the age of sixteen are regularly being sexually abused; half of them in their own homes, by adults who have the child's trust. This is a really chilling piece of fact. Sexual abuse actually could have a very broad definition: it could vary anywhere from talking "dirty" or to "unwanted touching ".

And children are more vulnerable to it than older people. Experts say that they should be thought to differentiate between a "good" and an "unwanted" or "bad" touch. It is even more unsettling when the criminal is one who has the family`s trust: an uncle, neighbour etc...
There was a case in Chennai a few years back where the abuser was a school bus attendant!

Children, being children, could probably be scarred for life, psycologically. And its even worse when they dont realize what`s happening to them. They only know that its not normal and they are scared to talk it out. And the abusers, perverts that they are, have it all to their advantage.

India has a large number of children, but how many of them really have a childhood?
I wish I could do something about it rather than just post. But just like everything else, Awareness is the first step....

over and out
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