Child sexual abuse: DCPCR to reach out to stakeholders for protection of victims

New Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) will be reaching out to various stakeholders, who are working for the welfare and safety of children, to discuss regarding the protection of victims in child sexual abuse.

According to child rights body, the stakeholders include Delhi Police, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and others. Discussions will be on child protection, rehabilitation, proper coordination and follow up of the cases.

DCPCR member Jyoti Duhan Rathee, elaborating the importance of victims' protection, stated that there are cases where pressure being mounted on the victims to withdraw the case.

"Suppose a case is registered and the accused is from family. Instead of supporting the victim, family members usually blame the child of bringing shame on the family. This way, a lot of pressure being built on the victim to withdraw the case. These problems force the minor to turn hostile," said Jyoti Rathee.

According to child rights body, there should be proper coordination among the stakeholders while dealing with the cases of child sexual abuse.

"The follow up is very much important in such cases. All stakeholders should continuously meet and interact with the victim. Our main aim should be proper rehabilitation of the kid and reintegration in the society," said DCPCR member.

Recently in September, a case was registered by Delhi Police in which the complainant stated that her son was threatened by one person to withdraw the case of sexual assault.

The complainant said that in the year 2017, her child was sexually assaulted by two persons. The child was terrified after the incident due to which he left his studies. He was regularly counseled and after two years of the incident, he once again started going to the school.