69% children suffer physical abuse, 50% sexually abused: Study

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) Contrary to the public perception, child abuse is rampant in India with 69 per cent of children facing physical abuse and over 50 per cent suffering from one or more form of sexual and emotional abuse with family members or people in position of trust and responsibility being responsible for their plight, a study on Child Abuse today brought to light the startling fact.

The 'Study on Child Abuse: India 2007' Conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in association with UNICEF, Save the Children and Prayas, has revealed that younger children in the age group of 5 to 15 years reported higher levels of abuse and boys were equally at risk of abuse as girls. Parents were major abuser of both physical and emotional abuse while in case of sexual abuse 50 per cent abusers were persons known to children or in position of trust and responsibility.

Moreover, Andhra Pradesh, Asom, Bihar and Delhi have consistently reported higher rates of abuse in all forms as compared to other states. These states showed higher physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children. Indicating the rampant neglect faced by girls across the country, 48,7 per cent girls wished they were boys.

The highest 87 per cent female young adults facing one or more forms of emotional abuse during childhood were from Delhi.

Releasing the study here today, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury said the report has revealed that children were not safe in their own homes and they remain silent victims of physical, emotional and sexual abuse which scar their mind and soul and impact their future life. She said this has been illustrated by the Nithari case where the person accused of sexually assaulting and killing children has claimed that as a child he himself was sexually abused.

Lamenting that there was no data in the country on child abuse, she said it was a 'landmark study', being the largest sample survey covering over 12,447 children from 13 states, the findings of which would help the government in policy formulation and legislations to protect children and promote their rights through specific programmes.

The Government has set up the National Commission for Protection of Children's Right and is going to launch the Integrated Child Protection Scheme during the XI five year plan. It would also present the Offences Against Children (Prevention) Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, she informed.

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