INDIA - SERVING TO BUILD CAPACITY OF LEADERS WORKING WITH VULNERABLE, EXPLOITED AND ORPHANED CHILDREN

WHEN TRAUMA STOPS

THE CHILD in INDIA

and

LEADERS MAKE 

THE COMMITMENT

FOR CHANGE

At Abobe of Peace

Think of a child you know that has experienced trauma....

We cannot begin to tell the stories that we have heard  - so sad and devastating that you just stop and ponder how you can help.  THIS GROUP OF LEADERS IS COMMITTED - and they work in many different areas:  churches, villages, orphanages, etc.

We had two join us on line via (Skype) from other countries: one woman from Singapore who works with prostitutes - helping to bring them out of bondage of the sex trade and another woman living in Australia.  All wanting to make a difference in a country where abuse, neglect and exploitation come in with devastating numbers.

India is the second most populated country in the world and have the most children of any country in the world.  There are over a half billion children in India.  Look at these facts... and Andhra Pradesh is high among the data.

According to one report, 40 percent of these children are in need of care and protection. With its multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious population, the problems of socially marginalized and economically backward groups, such as children are immense.

It has clearly emerged that across different kinds of abuse, it is young children, in the 5-12 year group, who are most at risk of abuse and exploitation.  According to one study the following statistics stand:

Physical Abuse

1. Two out of every three children were physically abused.

2. Out of 69% children physically abused in 13 sample states, 54.68% were boys.

3. Over 50% children in all the 13 sample states were being subjected to one or the other form of physical abuse.

4. Out of those children physically abused in family situations, 88.6% were physically abused by parents.

5. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi have almost consistently reported higher rates of abuse in all forms as compared to other states.

6. Most children did not report the matter to anyone.

7. 50.2% children worked seven days a week.

Sexual Abuse

1. 53.22% children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse.

2. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi reported the highest percentage of sexual abuse among both boys and girls.

3. 21.90% child respondents reported facing severe forms of sexual abuse and 50.76% other forms of sexual abuse.

4. Out of the child respondents, 5.69% reported being sexually assaulted.

5. Children on street, children at work and children in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault.

6. 50% abuses are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility.

Emotional Abuse and Girl Child Neglect

1. Every second child reported facing emotional abuse.

2. Equal percentage of both girls and boys reported facing emotional abuse.

3. In 83% of the cases parents were the abusers.

4. 48.4% of girls wished they were boys.