For the first time, data on child abuse and neglect in India

A new report by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in India, (supported by Save the Children and UNICEF) released today, reveals the extent and magnitude of child abuse and neglect in India. This is one of the world's largest empirical, in-country studies covering nearly 12,500 children and 4800 young adults in 13 States.

The Study looks at three different forms of child abuse - physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse and girl child neglect in families, schools, work places, on the street and institutions. The Study complements the UN Secretary General's Study on Violence against Children, 2006.

The Study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of child abuse, which will help formulate appropriate policies and programmes meant to effectively end child abuse in India.

Major findings of the Study:

• Boys, as compared to girls, are equally at risk of abuse.
• Persons in trust and authority are major abusers.
• 5-12 year old children are in the high risk category: across the forms of abuse, the percentage of abuse among them is the highest.
• 70% of the children have not reported abuse to anyone.
• Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi almost consistently report high rates of abuse in all forms as compared to other States.
• 2 out of every 3 children have been physically abused.
• Two out of every three school going children are victims of corporal punishment. Half of these incidents are in government run schools.
• More than half of the child respondents reported facing one or more forms of sexual abuse.
• Every second child reported facing emotional abuse. In more than 80% of the cases parents were the abusers.

At the inauguration of the Study, Renuka Choudhary, Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development, said "This is a landmark study that paves the way for new initiatives for protection of children in India." The Ministry on its part has taken measures such as enabling legislation to establish the National and State Commissions for Protection of Rights of the Child, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme and the draft Offences against Children Bill.

Shireen Miller, Head of Policy, Save the Children UK, India highlights "Family is the place where children should be the safest and yet this is the context in which much of the abuse takes place. The Study reveals an urgent need for both stronger legislation to protect children and parenting education in India."

Save the Children UK calls for stronger legislation to deal with Child Abuse and for the establishment of a separate and coherent National Child Protection Policy.

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For more information, contact:

Shireen Miller
Head of Policy
Save the Children UK, India
s.miller@scfukindia.org

Notes to the Editor:

The Study was commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, supported by Save the Children and UNICEF and researched by Prayas, a Delhi based NGO.