words per minute
9
MiriamNeedles
00:00
Speed
Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm to the child. WHO defines it as: Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical or emotional ill treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power. Child abuse is one of the most heinous and inhuman crime. It means to maltreat a child physically or emotionally. Thus, any commission or omission of an act by a parent which leads to a harm or possibility of harm to the child can be categorized as child abuse. Not only the parents but also those who happen to be in the social circle of a child can be a cause of this ill treatment. In India, many gruesome incidents of child abuse have been recorded in the past. In 2010, the National Commission of Protection of Child Rights received 75 cases of child abuse in India up to October 31, including cases of corporal punishment, with the highest number being reported from the national capital and Uttar Pradesh. Ranging from incest, rapes, sexual abuse, digital rape, sodomy, inappropriate touch to sexual assaults, India has a higher category of child sexual abuse than other kind of abuses. The worst part is that a stunning majority of these cases unreported. Also, reasons like shame, plain depravity and family honour contribute towards shunning and covering the cases of child abuse. The report also brings into light that harmful traditional practices like child marriage, caste system, discrimination against the girl child, child labour and Devadasi tradition impact negatively on children and increase their vulnerability to abuse and neglect.