The students of Times Media School of the Bennett University, India, share horrific stories of child abuse in this radio programme of about 19 minutes duration.
The recording of the programme was part of a workshop, conducted by broadcaster Pervaiz Alam, on Radio in the Digital Age via Podcasting. As the session progressed, students were invited to record a radio discussion on a subject of their choice – Child Protection.
According to experts, abuse and neglect are defined as “injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child.” This abuse can be of several kinds according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) – physical, mental, emotional, psychological or in the form of neglect or exploitation. It brings about circumstances causing harm to a child’s health, welfare, and safety.
During the radio discussion, participants reveal the extent of child abuse in and around their environment. Towards the end of the recording, students and faculty members at The Times Media School decided to continue with the theme of Child Protection as their contribution towards fulfilling the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Other programmes will follow.
The discussion was recorded on an ordinary mobile phone with its in-built mike. No other gadget was used.
India’s legal stance on child abuse and prevention
India’s Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act of 2012 (POCSO) and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act have been recently strengthened in their aim of fighting child rights violation.
Impact of child abuse
In case of both physical and emotional trauma, the immediate
impact is immediately felt. However, it can also result in lasting lifelong physical and psychological trauma. Other children, families, and society also experience this trauma in the way the afflicted child communicates with them. Research has indicated direct neural impact from abuse – as seen in the emotional lobe, memory centre, decision-making centre and other brain functioning areas.
As adults, victims of childhood abuse are more vulnerable to mental health trauma.
All over the world, child abuse happens in many forms:
Child victims of sexual abuse/exploitation
Child victims of neglect or abuse
Child victims of trafficking
Children with disabilities
Children in a situation of migration
Unaccompanied children in a situation of migration
Children without parental care/in alternative care
Children in police custody or detention
Street children
Children of parents in prison or custody
Children in judicial proceedings
Children in or at risk of poverty
Missing children (e.g. runaways, abducted children, unaccompanied children going missing)
Children affected by custody disputes, including parental child abduction
Children left behind (by parents who move to another EU country for work)
Children belonging to minority ethnic groups, e.g. Roma
Child victims of female genital mutilation or forced marriage
Children who are not in compulsory education or training or working children below the legal age for work
Child victims of bullying or cyberbullying
17 Sustainable Development Goals:
Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
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