‘Need Act to bring child abuses under one law'

BANGALORE:  “Neglect is of greater concern than abuse,” said Dr Anupama Raju, director, Indian Institute of Psychology and Research (IIPR) at a seminar on Child Sexual Abuse.

The seminar was held for students of psychology at Yavanika Hall on Monday.

One cannot neglect the child when he/she is abused. It needs to be brought to immediate notice, she said.

The child needs attention, counselling and love from their immediate near and dear ones and they should try and put the child into his daily routine habits, she added.

Commenting on the legal aspect of child sexual abuse, Anuroopa Giliyal, research officer- Legal centre for child and the law, said: “The government needs to come up with a separate Act bringing all the offences against children under one law. There is a proposal to set up child friendly courts and to come up with a separate Act for sexual offences against children.” The child rights commission needs to have psychologists on board, said Anupama Raju.

People should be empowered as mental health is of great concern in today’s times and there must be efforts to minimise or eradicate such abuse, she said.

An interactive session between the speakers and students was also held.

The main objective was to sensitise students about issues related to child sexual abuse, to enable them to understand and identify the trauma of sexual abuse on children, and to equip them with skills to deal with sexually-abused children at initial contact.

Studies and the incidences show that 50 per cent of abuse, be it sexual or physical, takes place in the family, said Dr Kavitha V Jangam, psychiatric social worker, NIMHANS.