Aishwarya Gandeed
Reporting on the courts beat means dealing with crimes on a daily basis. But it is no preparation for a distressing fact brought forward in recent conversations with public prosecutors and mental health professionals: half of the child sexual abuse cases involve family members as perpetrators — most commonly, fathers and uncles.
These crimes are not rare exceptions; they are more common than we’d like to believe. According to Additional Public Prosecutor Ram Reddy, over 50% of child sexual abuse cases filed under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act involve close relatives.
A disturbing trend is the reluctance of mothers, who usually file the complaints, to support the case when the accused is also the primary breadwinner. The fear of social stigma, financial instability, and threats from the accused make the legal process even harder for victims.
Despite laws, these cases often collapse in court due to lack of cooperation from the victim or the mother, who may be economically dependent on the abuser.
In one instance, a case was filed against a man for alleged sexual assault of his minor daughter The girl’s mother filed a complaint alleging that he had sexually abused their daughter on several occasions. However, the victim and her sister did not cooperate during the prosecution. Since the prosecution could not establish the victim’s age at the time of the offence, the accused was acquitted for want of evidence.
Similarly, a case against a man for sexually assaulting his 14-year old step-daughter also resulted in acquittal, Though the mother initially filed a complaint, she, the victim, and her brother did not cooperate during the trial, leading to his acquittal.
For decades, Indian society has normalised silence around sexual abuse, especially within families. Earlier laws clubbed all sexual crimes under rape, without offering children specific protection. It wasn’t until 2012 that POCSO was enacted to address this gap.
Even now, outdated social beliefs, lack of awareness, and the stigma surrounding sexual abuse prevent survivors and families from seeking justice. In many cases, victims are threatened, gaslighted, or guilt-tripped into silence, especially when the abuser is a trusted family member.
CAUSES AND EFFECTS
Several interlinked factors lead to child sexual abuse within families. The most sinister among them is grooming, a manipulative process where abusers gain a child’s trust over time. As Dr. Prasad explains, grooming involves isolating the child, fulfilling their needs, desensitising them through physical contact, and gradually abusing them. In most cases, perpetrators are family members or trusted individuals, making it harder for children to understand or resist the abuse. Other factors include poverty, lack of education, social stigma, gender inequality, poor sex education, and emotional neglect.
The psychological toll on survivors is immense. Dr. Hrishikesh Giri Prasad from Niloufer Hospital explains that girl survivors often internalise the trauma, leading to anxiety, depression, and even aversion to marriage. Boys, on the other hand, externalise their suffering, displaying aggression and impulsive behaviour. These effects often last well into adulthood, damaging their relationships and mental well-being. Student counsellors and psychologists also highlight that victims frequently suffer in silence due to fear of losing their dignity or being disbelieved.
THE WAY FORWARD
Sex education and awareness must start early. Schools and parents must teach children about safe and unsafe touch, consent, and healthy boundaries. Counselling and support systems should be made accessible to both victims and their families. Witness protection and fast-track courts must be strengthened to ensure that victims feel safe and supported through the trial process. Mandatory reporting mechanisms should be implemented in schools, hospitals, and child-care institutions. Training for parents and educators to identify behavioural changes and grooming signs early. Public campaigns that destigmatise speaking up about sexual abuse within families.
Child Sexual Abuse within families is not just a legal problem- it is a moral emergency. It corrodes trust at the most fundamental level of human relationships and leaves survivors with invisible wounds that last a lifetime. As a society, we must move beyond outrage and invest in creating a culture of openness, empathy, and vigilance. Every child deserves a safe home and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that children won’t continue to suffer in silence behind closed doors.