Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in India: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Crimes against children highlight the urgent need for child protection, legal enforcement, education, rehabilitation, and social awareness. Child Abuse is defined as injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child. This paper takes many forms, including sexual abuse, forced labor, domestic servitude, forced begging, involvement in petty crimes, child marriage, use of children in armed conflicts, and illegal adoption. Crimes against children highlight the urgent need for child protection, legal enforcement, education, rehabilitation, and social awareness. Child – Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO), defines Child as any person below the age of 18. Child sexual abuse - It is the sexual activity with a child by an adult, adolescent or older child. Sexual assault, sexual harassment and using a child for pornography are the different forms of child sexual
abuse.