Amidst cherishing childhood and jotting down memories in my diary, I was sexually assaulted by a person, whom I believed to be a nice and kind man. Haunted by the traumatic experience, I was forced to go through the hardest phase of my life, changing into a taciturn personality, and the pages of my diary were left blank. When I became aware of the child helpline through my friend after a couple of years, I wished that I could have known that earlier. Sign this petition  asking Kalvi TV for awareness on CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE so that no child has to suffer like I did.

       I'm not the only one. Every 1 in 2 children in India is affected by Child Sexual Abuse, and often they don't even realise that they have been or are being abused. Childhood is a time of fun, frolic, and excitement. Nearly half of the children in our country are denied this opportunity because of Child Sexual Abuse. If the 2022 statistics of the NCRB are any indication, Every third crime against a child was registered under the POCSO Act.

       Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been acknowledged as a severe public health distress. WHO summarises CSA as a Silent Health Emergency. Equipping children with personal safety measures from a young age provides them with knowledge and skills to prevent Child Sexual Abuse and seek support in case of any violations.

          The POCSO Act, 2012, Section 43 recommends that the Central and every State Government shall take all measures to ensure public awareness of the act through the media. Preventive and protective measures should be at the forefront of reparation measures. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

          Lately, CSA cases have shown an increase in Tamil Nadu, thereby ranking it 4th in the country for crimes against children. The need of the hour is to prevent violence against children by creating a secure society with more child-friendly spaces and strong community-based approaches by focusing primarily on healthy sexual attitudes among children and providing them with access to appropriate information for proper and informed decision-making.

In recent years, The Department of School Education, Tamil Nadu has taken several extensive measures, including mandatory sexual awareness & sensitization sessions, anti-sexual harassment policies, constituting the ICC, and complaint boxes to prevent Child Sexual Abuse in schools. Hence, I urge Kalvi TV, a state-owned exclusive educational channel for school students,

• To Display Child Helpline Toll-free Number 1098 as a 24×7 scrolling ticker in the Channel & App and its other social media handles.
• To Broadcast Awareness and Prevention Programs on Child Sexual Abuse during prime time.

                No violence against children is justifiable, but all violence against children is preventable. Every child has the right to be safe and protected from sexual abuse. By signing this petition, together we can create a safer space that spells hope for our children to thrive and holistically experience a happier childhood.

#RightToHappierChildhood

#KnowToSayNoCSA

#RightToChildSafety 

Image Source : www.childline.org