You can help protect children like Diya and
Rahul from sexual abuse
(Names have been changed to protect the identity
of the children)
Did you know that child sexual abuse is not
confined to a particular gender, and, shockingly, that the victim knows the
accused in the majority of the cases?
Rahul was only 10 years old when he was
sexually abused by his grandfather. He was being touched inappropriately and
made to watch films where adults were without clothes whenever they were alone
in the house. Tragically, the abuse continued for two long years and would have
gone on undetected if Rahul hadn’t attended the Personal Safety Education (PSE)
conducted at his school by Arpan. After the PSE session, Rahul was able to
build up courage to disclose his abuse to the Arpan trainer and was immediately
referred for counselling. It helped empower him to speak to his mother and
finally share this huge secret that had been eating away at him for so long.
Fortunately, his mother believed him, told him
it wasn’t his fault, took action by speaking to the grandfather to stop the
abuse immediately, and ensured that the grandfather does not have access to the
child. She also worked with Arpan to create a safety plan so that abuse doesn’t
happen again.
Diya’s story was different. After
attending a PSE session run by Arpan at her school, she got the courage to
confide in the trainer. Diya, aged 15, shared that she was being sexually
abused by her father and elder brother since she was a child. When she tried
telling her mother about it, her mother did not believe her. Diya was
overwhelmed with her tragic situation and felt unsafe, helpless and unprotected
at home, a place that was supposed to be her safe space and refuge from the
world.
Diya was initially placed in a shelter home to
keep her safe and Arpan helped facilitate this transition. She was also
provided the necessary counselling support to help with her trauma. Eventually,
Diya was able to return home safely after her father and brother were taken
into custody.
These stories are heartbreaking to hear
and no child should have to go through any kind of abuse. The trauma caused to
their young minds and bodies can have a damaging lifelong impact, unless
healed.
At Arpan, we believe every child
matters. Every child has a right to be safe and protected from sexual abuse and
heal from its ill effects.
Arpan is India’s largest Child Sexual
Abuse (CSA) non-profit organisation, with over 120 professionals providing
vital prevention and intervention services to both children and adults. Our
model has been proven to prevent sexual abuse and heal children who face it.
Please help support the safety of children like
Diya and Rahul and stop child sexual abuse by donating today.