1 out of 6 boys faces sexual abuse before turning 18, say experts
On: 13th November 2014 , Source: The Times of India
One in six boys experiences some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18, said professional counselors at a workshop held in the city on Wednesday. Cases of child sex abuse that get reported mostly mention girl victims, but studies have indicated that boys are equally at risk, they said.
At the workshop for school principals and teachers organised by Smile Foundation on Wednesday, counsellors attached to the Madras Engineer Group of the Army said there is a widely held but mistaken belief among people that girls were the prime target of sexual offenders and that boys are not targets for sexual abuse.
''Parents think boys are strong and they don't need any help. They feel it is even not normal to offer them help and only girls need to be kept under constant watch as they are the targets of sexual offenders,'' said Radhika Chhabria, a counsellor from Chennai.
While cases of sexual abuse, in general, are underreported, counsellors said that in most cases, parents were not aware of their child's mental state as they were not encouraged to express themselves. ''The child would not be aware of what is happening to him or her. But even when they try to express it to their parents, many shut them up and don't pay attention.Hence, many cases do not get exposed,'' said Purnima Ganesh, a counsellor from Bengaluru.
Dispelling another myth that children get abused only by strangers, the counsellors pointed out that studies show that close to 85% of perpetra tors of sexual abuse are either related or known to the victims.
''They can be family members, friends or anyone within the circle known to the family. We have seen many children including boys belonging to rich families being victimized. But people again think that it is only children from families of lowincome groups that are targets,'' Ganesh said.
The counsellors said that providing sex education could go a long way in making a child assertive in facing up to the perpetrator.
''Talking about sex has been a taboo in Indian society and we usually leave it to the children's environment to teach them about it. Do not shut them up when they ask questions related to sex. Explain things to them according to their age,'' said Chitra Ananthan, a counsellor from Bengaluru.
Plumber, 24, arrested for molesting disabled teenage girl in Pallavaram
Chennai: Police on Wednesday arrested a 24yearold man for sexually abusing a disabled 15yearold girl in Pallavaram. Mani, a resident of Moovarasampet near Pallavaram and a plumber by profession, befriended the girl who lived next door. On Wednesday, Mani took her to a nearby park and sexually abused her.Hearing the girl's cry out for help, people in the park ran to the spot.They thrashed Mani and handed him over to police. The girl was sent to a government hospital for examination. The Pallavaram police registered a case and arrested Mani who is cooling his heels in prison.
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