"All over the world sexual abuse against children exists in India, and reports suggest it exists on a rampant scale. According to a 2007 survey sponsored by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, over 53 percent of India’s children have been sexually abused in some way. Children between 5 and 12 years old are the most vulnerable age group and boys outnumber girls with 52.94 percent reporting abuse.
In February 2011 The Times of India reported that every 2.5 hours a child below 16 years of age and every 13 hours a child below 10 years of age is raped in India, making it the country with the highest number of cases of child sexual abuse of any country.

For the first time in India, a comprehensive bill that covers the entire spectrum of child sexual abuse is under consideration in Indian Parliment. "The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses 2011...defines a range of sexual offences against children that have been ignored and proposes more stringent punishments for offenders.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines CSA (Child Sexual Abuse) as “The involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend.” According to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), there are various forms of sexual abuse besides rape and penetration. Incest, sodomy, fondling the genitals of a child, exploitation in way of prostitution and indecent exposure to pornographic material either by viewing or production comes within CSA. The new bill is expected to extend to all these quarters.
[Yet] Vidya Reddy of Tulir Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse...says, 'Earlier the law had three glaring gaps. First, there was very little that recognized sexual crimes against boys. Second, only a specific sexual act like penetrative sex was covered. And third, the procedure was outdated expecting children to behave like adults and stand up and complain about sexual abuse.'

According to child rights activists and non-government organizations working to strengthen CSA laws, a law like this will ensure necessary legal provisions for victims. They hope that having such legislation in place will make it easier for people to recognize the crime and to help police register a case under the appropriate legal provision that applies to such crimes."

After years of denial, this law could help Indian officers, judges, and citizens alike recognize that Child Sexual Abuse a sick crime. Even if the bill is passed, it won't prevent CSA, but it is definitely a step towards protecting children and punishing pedophiles who get away so often in India.

These excerpts are from the article "New Law to Address Child Sexual Abuse in India" by Lesley D. Biswas.
To read the full article, please go to:
http://www.thewip.net/contributors/2011/06/new_law_to_address_child_sexua.html