Sharp Rise In Child Rape Cases Requires Hard Look At Accountability

Child rape cases have seen a rise of 96 percent from 2016 to 2022. An analysis of the NCRB report by child rights NGO CRY (Child Rights and You) revealed that there has been a rise in the number of child sexual assault cases. Speaking about the potential reasons behind the same, the director of research and knowledge exchange at CRY, Subhendu Bhattacharjee, said that improved public awareness has led to more people reporting any case of child sexual assault. 

The analysis shows that in the years 2021 and 2022 alone, there was a significant 6.9 percent rise in the reporting of child sexual abuse cases. The analysis included all forms of penetrative assault and concluded that there has been a total 96.8 percent rise in reported child sexual abuse cases between 2016 and 2022.

In 2022, 38,911 cases of child rape and penetrative assaults were reported, which marks a significant increase from 36,381 cases in 2021. In the year 2020, 30,705 cases were reported, and in 2019, there were 31,132 cases. In 2018, 30917 cases were reported, and in 2017, there were 27.616 cases. In the year 2016, 19,765 cases were recorded. 

The reason behind the increased reporting of cases

Bhattacharjee further added that the increased trust of people in the reporting mechanisms and increased accessibility of dedicated helplines, online portals, and specialised agencies have led families to step up and report cases of child sexual abuse.

Bhattacharjee has attributed the positive rise in people coming forward to report child sexual abuse cases to the new legal reforms and policy changes aimed at strengthening the laws against child sexual abuse. He also credited the media's coverage of high-profile cases and the active involvement of communities and civil society organisations in creating a supportive environment. 

He further said that the attitude of discussing and addressing sensitive issues like child sexual abuse has broken the "culture of silence." He added, "Encouraging open conversations about child sexual abuse empowers victims to speak up and report abuse without fear of societal judgment and stigma." 

What needs to be improved?

However, Bhattacharjee also noted that there is still a need to improve the investigation and prosecution of cases of child sexual abuse. There is a need for the support of the survivors and sustained efforts to ensure child welfare and security. 

"While increased awareness may lead to more reported cases, evaluating how law enforcement and judicial bodies handle these cases is crucial. Also, escalated protective measures to align with national and international legal requirements, strong implementing mechanisms ensuring child protection, and building adequate support systems for the survivors are essential steps," he added. 

Economic and socio-cultural factors like poverty, lack of livelihood, societal norms, and systemic vulnerabilities deem it necessary to take up effective and multi-faceted methods to tackle child sexual abuse cases. 

Another report talked about child sexual abuse cases

Recently, a report revealed that India needs at least 9 years to clear all the backlog of cases reported under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. According to the report by the India Child Protection Fund (ICPF), titled ‘Justice Awaits: An Analysis of the Efficacy of Justice Delivery Mechanisms in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse in India, only 3 percent of the cases under the POCSO Act have resulted in a conviction. Over 2.43 lakh cases are pending at the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) as of January 31, 2023.

What is the reason behind this backlog? The fast-track courts set up by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to deal exclusively with POCSO cases are only clearing 28 cases on average every year. They are falling short of the target of disposing of 165 cases every year, with 41–42 cases a quarter. The report suggested disappointment that even though three years have passed since the establishment of the fast-track courts, the target has not been achieved.