I refuse to understand.
Stories of Child-Abuse are as common as it is horrifying, sometimes they are blazing headlines in a newspaper where young children, were sexually abused by an adult around them —but more often than not they silently disappear in front of you. Does it sound alarming? Well, yes, our children are exposed to this hidden epidemic of child abuse.
India, which is the second most populous country in the world, Children represent 39% of total population of the country. That is not just a statistic. These are 472 million individual children whose lives and futures are in jeopardy. As stated by a government-commissioned survey more than 53% of children are subjected to sexual abuse i.e one out of every two children is facing the abuse in one or multiple forms.
Abuse is just not an incident like any other accident which happened at that moment and it’s over now, NO!. It’s a traumatising experience, the pain of which crawls into the life yet to come, shaking the identity, confidence and leaving one in a state where they blame themselves when it’s certainly not their fault. Drenched into the horrors they have experienced — see their future shaped by fury and fear.
Sexual abuse is literally a matter of life or death for victims. A sexual infringement may not end in murder, but rather in the event that it prompts to drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, anxiety and suicide at times — what difference does it make? That’s a distinction without a difference.
A 9-year-old girl molested by her uncle, a 4-year-old girl raped by her teacher, a 11-year-old boy sexually assaulted by a person working in a church at a respected position. I could go on, but would it make a difference?
I am disturbed. Disturbed because of the crushing weight of what I have seen and learned.
What happened to humanity?
Are we so cruel and insensitive towards children?
Are children becoming a toy for pleasure?
My brain refuses to understand how many stories will it take, before we realise its a serious issue that needs to be eradicated from the society. We might not be able to contemplate the magnitude of the problem and the scar it leaves behind. But do we have to wait until it happens to us or our children. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Believe it or not, Child abuse is an ugly truth which is happening at an alarming rate. Lets leave our shame and awkwardness behind for the millions of life and give them a happy, care free childhood.
