Date:03/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080359390300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Sexual abuse cases on the rise: D. Sreedevi

Staff Reporter

Discussion held on domestic violence, child abuse

Women’s Commission Chairperson D. Sreedevi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Incidents relating to incestuous relationships and sexual perversions are increasingly being reported in the State, State Women’s Commission Chairperson D. Sreedevi has said.

She was speaking at a discussion on ‘Increasing domestic violence and child abuse in Kerala’ organised by the YMCA, in the city, on Saturday.

Referring to an incident involving a 12-year-old girl, Ms. Sreedevi said the class VI student was driven to the verge of insanity after she entered into a sexual liaison with her classmate. “The girl lost her interest in studies and became distraught and mentally devastated. The teachers who provided counselling to the students later discovered a cache of obscene pictures and literature from the students,” she said.

Society has changed for the worse in the last 10 years. She said her stint in the Family Court as a judicial officer was a time when she could gauge the change.

“Problems relating to alcohol and dowry are the two significant components wreaking family life. Many families today are living under the shadow of fear,” she said.

A change is possible only by inculcating moral values right from childhood, she said. “Just like brushing our teeth every morning without being told to do so, values should become a part our habit,” the former judge said.

Inspector General of Police (Administration) A. Hemachandran recalled an incident where a police personnel was suspended from service for sexually abusing his daughter. “However, after a few months, his wife who initially complained against him, approached me and requested that her husband be reinstated as the family struggled to make both ends meet,” Mr. Hemachandran said.

“We have laws does not mean that it will not automatically prevent such incidents,” he said. “Also, gender equality will become a reality only when there is financial independence,” he added.

Kerala Jail Executive Officers Association president S. Sathosh said most children, especially boys, faced sexual abuse from within the family. “The fact that boys are relatively less protected than girls also makes them more vulnerable to abuses,” he said.

He described the rise in the number of cases relating to abuses among children as ‘alarming.’

YMCA president K.J. Punnoose presided over the function. The function was also attended YMCA general secretary Thomas Abraham.