Our Work
End Child Sexual Abuse
Need
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report states that there were 64,469 reported cases of children sexually abused and 38,444 children raped in India in 2022.
This means, 7 children every hour report a sexual crime against them, and 4 are reporting rape.
Out of the 2,68,038 Child sexual abuse (CSA) cases that were under trial, only 8,909 (a mere 3%) resulted in a conviction, as per the NCRB Report 2022.
As of December 2022, 239,188 CSA cases were pending trial in Indian courts.
Child sexual abuse is one of the worst forms of violence against children, viciously curtailing childhoods and usually resulting in long-term harm. In India, estimates of the prevalence of child sexual abuse are disturbingly high, but it remains a crime dramatically under-reported.
Approach
We aim to substantially increase the current national conviction rate of 3% to put an absolute halt on the impunity around this crime to stop the sexual abuse of children.
End the long wait for justice by advocating for more and increased support for Fast Track Special Courts, with the ultimate aim of all cases being disposed of in the same year as they are presented for trial. In 2022, only 10% of rape and POCSO cases were disposed of across all courts, highlighting alarmingly low disposal rates. Fast-track Special Courts (FTSCs) demonstrated much higher efficiency, with an 83% disposal rate in 2022 rising to 94% in 2023. As of August 2024, 755 of the 1,023 earmarked FTSCs are operational, including 410 exclusive POCSO courts. The immediate focus is needed to activate the remaining 268 FTSCs, and to include at least 1,000 more to clear all pending rape and POCSO cases.
Ensure every survivor of child sexual abuse has access to protection, legal support, and rehabilitation.
Support children to become aware of their rights about their bodies and the crimes of child sexual abuse, to empower them to speak up when they are at risk or have been victims, and to provide them with ways to report the crime safely and without fear.
Action
We support survivors to report their crimes, offer rehabilitation through counselling, and provide legal support to accelerate the passage of their cases through the courts. Our efforts include,
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Legal aid and support throughout the process to the victims to help reintegrate and reinstate back into society.
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Mental health support and interventions, especially counselling, provided as part of every case.
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Training law enforcement officials and agencies to strengthen the state mechanism for enhancing the time-bound prosecution against crime, identify incidents of trafficking and abuse, track and monitor cases, provide evidence on suspects for investigation, and protect children.
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Appointment and capacity building of the Support persons, as per the guidelines issued by the Government, to ensure that the victims and their families have access to all the rights under the law.
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Sensitising children and communities to understand their rights, and empower them to report the crime against them by running awareness activities and campaigns.
ADITI’S STORY
Every day on her way to school, 16 year-old Aditi*, from West Bengal, would get harassed by a 22 year-old man called Ratan[2], even when she would protest. One evening on her way to home, he forced her into a nearby, isolated mango grove and tried to rape her.
Eventually a neighbour heard her cries, found them and caught Ratan. The neighbour called the police and managed to hand Ratan over to the police. After the incident, Aditi was left emotionally broken and she stopped going to the school.
To her rescue, she was soon approached by a partner NGO of Just Right for Children who extended every kind of support she required. They started the counselling process. They also contacted her school too so she could return to class, and she passed the Higher Secondary exam with star marks.
Now, her case is in court and JRC is fighting for her, and many more victims like her. Today, she is continuing her studies so she can be part of the fight against violence towards women.
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* Name changed for protection of the child