Understanding and combating child abuse: "Protecting our Future"

Children are nation’s future and tomorrow‘s citizens. Children are like buds in the garden and should be lovingly natured. The primary stage of life does not know any worry and anxiety, good or evil.  The soul of a child is as pure as crystal and in Indian culture children are seen as the image of the god.

But in today’s world, child abuse is a distressing and pervasive issue that continues to plague societies across the world. Defined any act or failure to act that causes harm or potential harm to a child, child abuse take many forms, including physical harms, sexual, emotional or neglect.  The dark reality transcends cultural, socio-economic and geographic boundaries, impacting millions of innocent lives.

In this article I will delve into the various aspects of child abuse, its global prevalence, root causes, consequences and the imperative needs for concerted efforts to address and prevent this heinous crime.

Child abuse is not only an issue in India but it is a black truth of entire world.  Globally ¹it is estimated that up to 1 billion children aged 2-17 years, have experienced physical, sexual and emotional violence or neglect in few past years.¹ Approximately one in four children experience child abuse or neglect in their lifetime.