The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Child abuse: need to bridge gap between complaint and conviction

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 26, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Child abuse: need to bridge gap between complaint and conviction

J. Malarvizhi

CHENNAI: Less than 500 cases relating to bodily harm of children are reported annually in the city, according to police records. Of these, several are pending trial cases, about two-thirds of all cases are prosecuted and less than one-thirds result in conviction.

A survey, conducted recently by Tulir Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse (Tulir CPHCSA) in the city, showed more than 40 per cent of children in the city from across social strata reporting various forms of sexual abuse.

The percentage of boys reporting abuse was marginally higher than that of girls. Most abusers were known well to the child, including close relatives and domestic help. The National Crime Records Bureau Statistics for 2005 estimated that about 74 per cent of all reported crimes against children are sexual crimes.

The case of 15-year-old Sheela* is an exception to the rule so far. Sexually abused by her sister’s husband, she complained to the police, who referred her case to the Child Welfare Committee. The Kodungaiyur police were quick in remanding the accused, said Committee chairperson P. Manorama. The girl has been taken to the observation home under the custody of the committee. Now, pressure is being mounted on the committee, with requests that they do not register a ‘strong’ complaint.

Child sexual abuse is grossly under-reported because of several factors, including cultural taboos and shame, said Vidya Reddy of Tulir CPHCSA. Social workers also say the police need to focus on closing the gap between complaints and convictions in the case of child abuse.

The interview and investigation process need to be made more child-friendly for this to happen. The child, for instance, might not remember the exact date an incident took place or have the language to explain how she was abused — all facts that can collapse cases.

“As an organisation that works with children, we are concerned over the lack of confidence in how child victims are interviewed or how the child abuse complaint is investigated,” Ms. Reddy said.

Specific training and sensitisation programmes could be one solution. Currently, Child Welfare Officers are only being trained in Juvenile Justice Act. Child abuse cases are particularly sensitive and, if lost, can put the child at risk of more abuse, activists say.

In the case of Sheela, for instance, justice delayed or denied could threaten her safety. Her family has abandoned her and backed the brother-in-law, the sole breadwinner. The family was aware of the abuse and did nothing it is alleged.

(*Name changed.)

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