Kailash Satyarthi Launches Bharat Yatra To End Child Sexual Abuse

In a bid to spread awareness about child sexual abuse, Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi has launched "Bharat Yatra" in Hyderabad on Tuesday. It is  a war aimed at pushing for a strong law against human trafficking, rape, child sexual abuse,

About the March

The march will be flagged off from Vivekananda Memorial, Kanyakumari on September 11, commemorating the 124th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago and culminate in New Delhi on October 16.

The founder of 'Save the Childhood Movement' will be travelling 11,000 km, covering 22 states to urge people to end child  sexual abuse jeopardizing the lives of our country's children.

“One of the major demands through this campaign is that Parliament passes a stringent law against human trafficking, including child trafficking,” Satyarthi told reporters in Hyderabad.

Ahead of the start of the Yatra Satyarthi has met the President and the PM, several Union ministers. He has also met state heads, corporate biggies, representatives of civil society and spiritual leaders and urged them to join.

Watch: @K_Satyarthi’s ‘Bharat Yatra’ is war against child sexual abuse and trafficking https://t.co/JuPg2WbiKp pic.twitter.com/Jr5s3VjpHN

— scroll.in (@scroll_in) August 30, 2017

A Moral Epidemic

Satyarthi Believes that sexual crime against children is a moral epidemic that has plagued our nation. The number of cases registered last year was around 15,000. Out of those 15,000 cases, 90 per cent of cases are still pending. It will take 40 years to dispose of all these cases, only if no new cases come up.

Also: One In Every Two Children Victim Of Sexual Abuse: Survey

"Every 8 minutes, a girl goes missing — trafficked for sexual abuse, prostitution, forced labour or child marriage."

Read Also: Bengaluru launches centre for sexual abuse survivors

Need for Proper infrastructure to tackle cases of sexual abuse

India doesn't have the proper infrastructure to provide medical care to rape victims. There is no single case where the child or the victim was provided with psychological counselling. We also need a strong judicial mechanism — fastrack courts and speedy trials, medical support, psychological support for these kids.

हमारी बेटियां अपनी आवाज़ उठा रही हैं, आगे बढ़ रही हैं। जामिया विश्वविद्यालय की छात्रा सना ने भारत यात्रा के लिए पोस्टर भेजा।आप भी कुछ कीजिए pic.twitter.com/4T3ONPDTCs

— Kailash Satyarthi (@k_satyarthi) August 28, 2017

Ensuring a positive childhood for all

Satyarthi wants to speak for the voiceless children. He says, "We have to be the agents of change who will work tirelessly to ensure that the children in this country are free to live a safe life."

Kailash Satyarthi's crusade to save the childhood of millions of children across the country is commendable. Moreover, it is only because of conscientious people like him that we can envision a country where every child relishes his/her childhood.