Compelled Subjugation and Forced Silence: Sexually Abused Girls and their Family Members: A Case Study of Western Madhya Pradesh (India)

Child sexual abuse in India: A systematic review

“…Few studies (11/51) among the quantitative and mixed-methods studies included in the review reported about the characteristics of the CSA perpetrators [ 31 , 49 , 52 – 61 ]. The studies conducted among the community sample indicated that perpetrators of CSA in India are known to the abused children, and many of them are family members [ 49 , 58 , 59 , 62 ]. The qualitative synthesis of studies that included perpetration as a sphere of enquiry suggests that multiple factors at individual, family, and societal levels play a significant role in perpetration of CSA.…”

“…The qualitative synthesis of studies that included perpetration as a sphere of enquiry suggests that multiple factors at individual, family, and societal levels play a significant role in perpetration of CSA. The offenders, often known to the victims, take advantage of their accessibility to potential victims and with lack of severe punishment by family members and protective nature of the family members towards the abuser, often leads to the incident getting unreported [ 58 , 59 , 62 ]. However, studies that included adolescent boys as samples reported higher percentage of perpetration by strangers as compared to adolescent girls [ 49 ].…”

“…There is a need to assess the associations between CSA and physical health outcomes like menstrual irregularities; behavioral issues that persist in adult life of CSA survivors including increased risk of perpetration of CSA, increased participation in sex work, re-victimization as adults, high risk sexual behaviors and psychosexual dysfunctions; and delays in developmental milestones leading to deficits in motor, emotional, behavioural, language, psychosocial, social, and cognitive skills among children in Indian context as has been indicated in global literature on consequences of CSA [ 11 , 81 ]. The qualitative literature [ 58 , 59 , 62 ], included in the review, based on the experiences of sexually abused girls indicated that the reactions of the families to the discovery of CSA often caused re-traumatization and hindered the healing process. More research is needed to understand the complex familial and social factors that influence the wellbeing among victims of CSA to inform programs and policies for prevention and treatment of CSA victims.…”

Legislative Models of Prosecuting Child Sexual Abuse in India: A Review and Critical Analysis

“…Lack of funding is partly to blame (Dunne, Purdie, Cook, Boyle, & Najman, 2006), and there exists an unwillingness on the part of governments to formally record and document the incidence and nature of child abuse (Davidson, 2008). Studies conducted by Pagare (2003), Deb & Sen ((2005), Chatterjee, Chakraborty, Srivastava,& Deb (2006), Priyabadini (2007), Deb & Walsh (2012), Sahay (2010), Krishnakumar, Satheesan, Geeta, & Sureshkumar (2014), Carson, Foster & Tripathi (2013), in India indicate high levels of trauma and post-traumatic stress among sexually abused children.…”

“…A study in Western Madhya Pradesh by Sahay (2010) investigated the experiences of sexually abused girls and their families. The reactions of the girls' families to the discovery of child sexual abuse often caused re-traumatisation and hindered their healing process.…”