Thank God For This! Maneka Gandhi Says Abused Boys Should Be Treated On Par With Abused Girls

A 2007 study by WCD ministry found 53.22% children have faced one or more forms of sexual abuse

By: Rakesh Jha |
April 28, 2018 2:26 pm

Minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi has confirmed that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights plans to commission a first-of-its-kind study on male survivors of child sex abuse.

On Thursday, a meeting was held by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to discuss the preventive strategies of CSA, Hindustan Times reported.

Filmmaker Insia Dariwala, who is seeking a gender neutral focus on child sexual abuse, started an online petition last year demanding that the authorities order an in-depth study on male survivors of child sexual abuse in India.

Gandhi also said that her ministry is aware of the petition, she had in September 2017 instructed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to look into the matter.

The NCPCR held a conference in this regard in November last year. During this conference, the NCPCR studied a preliminary research conducted by Dariwala, which included 160 male survivors of sexual abuse from across the country. The study also revealed a possible correlation between unresolved sexual trauma on boys, and increasing violence on women and children, PTI reported.

The Children welfare body also recommended an amendment to the existing scheme i.e. to include compensation for boys who have been sexually abused or raped.

The NCPCR had also invited the filmmaker to conduct a larger study on male survivors of child sexual abuse, starting with observation homes, and special needs homes.

The last official study on child sexual abuse was conducted by the WCD Ministry in 2007.

It was found 53.22% children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse. Among them, 52.94% were boys and 47.06% girls. Also 50% abusers are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility.

The WCD Ministry had in February announced that it would consider measures to help adult survivors of child sexual abuse report their abusers.

While girl sexual abuse is looked as a serious crime, most people in our society are averse to the idea that a male could also be a victim of sexual abuse

Additionally, gender roles constrain boys from reporting such crimes for fear of being ridiculed and their sexuality being questioned.