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The POCSO Act of 2012 in India is a crucial legislative measure aimed at distinguishing between adult and child sexual offenses, and establishing a child protection framework. It aims to protect children from sexual abuse. However, its practical implementation faces challenges, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the situations involving the child victim. The Act, designed to create a legal sanctuary for children against sexual exploitation, hinges greatly on the judiciary’s aptitude to grasp the intricate challenges child victims confront. While the Act sets the stage for child protection, its effectiveness pivots on the sensitivity and comprehension of judges in handling cases involving child victims. This study endeavors to elucidate the obstacles faced by judges, ranging from limited awareness and entrenched biases, to the absence of specialized training. Sensitizing judges, the cornerstone of this paper’s discourse, is indispensable for fostering effective and empathetic decision-making. This study reverberates with a fervent appeal to recognize judges as torchbearers of change, instrumental in dismantling the shrouds of silence and indifference that have long cloaked child sexual offenses. Through a sensitized and empathetic judiciary, we aspire to build a society that unequivocally stands as a bulwark against the insidious menace of child sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, a large number of youngsters are found missing in India. Among them, a large number of cases are never solved due to various difficulties faced by the police ranging from heavy paperwork to lacking technology. Therefore, one of this work's key goals is to provide an application that may assist people whose children have been missing and rescued by the public. This will also reduce the time required to find the missing child to reunite the child with their loved ones as soon as possible. The pictures of child victims can be uploaded by the citizens along with landmarks, to our web app. The photographs will be matched to the missing child's registered photographs if existing in the database. A deep neural network model is trained to locate the lost youngster using a facial picture uploaded by the citizens. Multi-Tasking CNN (MTCNN), the most efficient DNN technique for image-based apps, is used for facial Identification. The images were passed through an augmentation layer to get images of different orientations, brightness, and contrast, which were used ahead to train the EfficientNetB0 model. This model is then used to recognize faces in photographs. Using the MTCNN model for facial recognition with EfficientNetB0 and developing it yields a deep learning model that is free from all types of distortion. The model's training accuracy is 96.66 percent and its testing accuracy is 76.81 percent, implying that there is approximately 77 percent possibility of finding a match for the missing kid. It was evaluated using 25 Child classes. Each Child class has around 15 to 20 images. These images are taken with different backgrounds and real-time settings so that model will work even when noise is present in the image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the outcome of definitive repair of anogenital injuries (AGI) in child victims of acute sexual assault. Settings and Design: It is a prospective study of emergency care provided to child victims of acute sexual assault at a tertiary care Pediatric Surgical Unit in Maharashtra, India. Material and Methods: Out of 25 children, who presented during January 2009-December 2010 with suspected sexual assault, five children (one male and four female, between 4-9 years of age), had incurred major AGI. These children underwent definitive repair and a diverting colostomy. Perineal pull-through was performed in the male child with major avulsion of rectum. One 4-year-old girl with intraperitoneal vaginal injury required exploratory laparotomy in addition. Results: The postoperative period and follow-up was uneventful in all our patients. Four out of five patients have excellent cosmetic and functional outcome with a follow-up of 2-4 years. Our continence results are 100%. Conclusion: Children with acute sexual assault need emergency care. To optimally restore the distorted anatomy, all major AGI in such children should be primarily repaired by an expert, conversant with a child's local genital and perineal anatomy. Along with provision of comprehensive and compassionate medical care, prevention of secondary injuries should be the ultimate goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counter-trafficking measures are to be implemented at various levels and by various organisations. The medical professionals also play an important role in this area as in many cases, the victims are first identified when they require some form of medical attention. A child victim of trafficking is any person younger than 18 years against whom the act of trafficking has been committed. The definition of child trafficking differs from that of trafficking in humans in the respect that children are considered being vulnerable not only because of their level of maturity and age but also other factors. This article highlights the various legal aspects of child and human trafficking in India. The victim of trafficking may not himself disclose what he is going through, so there are certain points on history and examination which should arise the suspicion in the mind of the health professional. These signs and symptoms are mentioned in this article which are collected from various resources. Emergency medicine department has an important role in screening of these victims, although all the departments contribute in identifying the victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of rescue and rehabilitation efforts for child sex trafficking survivors in India is reintegration into the child's family and community. However, survivors sometimes return voluntarily to sex work despite the "reintegration" process. This exploratory qualitative study attempts to examine the victims' perceptions regarding their return to home and aspirations for the future. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 survivors rescued from red light establishments who were residing in a government shelter. Open coding was used to determine thematic content related to the intersection of trafficking, domestic violence, child maltreatment, and the implications for these regarding reintegration successes. The data suggest mandatory repatriation of rescued survivors is often not desirable, as many of the girls were not enthusiastic about their family reunification. The participants who were misled into trafficking through fraud were quite eager to go back to their families, while those who had fled their homes due to domestic violence and later found themselves in a trafficking situation were afraid to return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intermediary landscape in India is extensive and regulating; it is often laborious considering the expanding market and ensuing policy changes. The advent of globalization heralds the inrush of entities that operate transnationally, which often beget legal uncertainties in outlining the intermediary liabilities conundrum. Many jurisdictions oscillated from the notions of liability to safe harbor in fixing the intermediary liabilities. Children are often an easy target of online abuse and Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) is the most circulated object in the cyberspace. This paper has adopted both empirical and doctrinal research methods. The paper primarily addresses the accountability and response on the part of intermediaries for abusive content against children transmitted in their platform and is an attempt to provide an insight into the reasons behind the online exploitation of children in India. The study analyses the public opinion on the online exploitation of children based on a survey conducted among 270 respondents aged from 14 to 50 years. The findings gave support to the suggestions that the exploitation and abuse of children frequently transpire online, and the public perception regarding the gender of child victims varies between girls and boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various obstacles which make it difficult to identify and rehabilitate victims of child sex trafficking in the U.S. and India as of June 2012. According to the article, police corruption in India and the disparate treatment of foreign and domestic victims in the U.S. are two reasons why it is hard for advocates to properly identify child victims who need assistance.

Introduction: In 2007, Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, supported by United Nations Children's Fund, save the children and Prayas conducted a study to understand the magnitude of child abuse in India, they found that 53.22% children faced one or more forms of sexual abuse; among them, the number of boys abused was 52.94%. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the barriers for seeking psychiatric help by qualitative analysis of stake holders of male victims of child abuse. Materials and Methods: All the statements made by the stakeholders regarding psychiatric assessment and treatment were recorded in each referral made to the psychiatrist. Semistructured interviews and in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the topic of understanding the need for psychiatric treatment to the victims. Results: Collaborative child response unit, a multidisciplinary team, to tackle child sexual abuse in a general hospital received three referrals of male child abuse among the 27 referrals in 20 months. The main theme of the barrier that was generated by interviewing the stakeholders of male child victims of abuse was the misconception of superiority of a male victim due to gender (patriarchy) an expectation that he will outgrow the experience. In-depth interviews of three cases of homosexual abuse explored the theme. Conclusion: Patriarchy is oppressing male children and acts as a barrier to seek psychiatric help in collaborative child response unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study critically examines India's legal framework against human trafficking, analyzing the progress of penal provisions from a socio-legal perspective in the post-colonial period. It highlights the inadequacies and challenges of prevailing laws like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Act of 2018, in effectively addressing the complexities of trafficking. Through case studies and an exploration of judicial interpretations, the research reveals the historical bequests of colonial laws that continue to influence contemporary practices. It further examines the socio-economic factors that contribute to trafficking, accenting the need for a comprehensive approach that integrates victim support, public awareness, and international cooperation. The results advocate for ongoing reforms to enhance legal effectiveness and promote justice for victims while ensuring accountability for offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal radiographs along with dental examination are frequently used for age estimation in medicolegal cases where documentary evidence pertaining to age is not available. Wrist and hand radiographs are the most common skeletal radiograph considered for age estimation. Other parts imaged are elbow, shoulder, knee, and hip according to suspected age categories. Age estimation by wrist radiographs is usually done by the Tanner-Whitehouse method where the maturity level of each bone is categorized into stages and a final total score is calculated that is then transformed into the bone age. Careful assessment and interpretation at multiple joints are needed to minimize the error and categorize into age-group. In this article, we aimed to summarize a suitable radiographic examination and interpretation for bone age estimation in living children, adolescents, young adults, and adults for medicolegal purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new Domestic Workers Dataset is the largest single set of surveys (n = 11,759) of domestic workers to date. Our analysis of this dataset reveals features about the lives and work of this "hard-to-find" population in India—a country estimated to have the largest number of people living in forms of contemporary slavery (11 million). The data allow us to identify child labour, indicators of forced labour, and patterns of exploitation—including labour paid below the minimum wage—using bivariate analysis, factor analysis, and spatial analysis. The dataset also helps to advance our understanding of how to measure labour exploitation and modern slavery by showing the value of "found data" and participatory and citizen science approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychological stress following natural disaster is common. Despite several earthquakes in India, data on evaluation of acute stress among the child victims in the early postdisaster period is scarce. Immediately following a devastating earthquake (6.9 Richter) at Sikkim on September, 18 2011, many children attended North Bengal Medical College, the nearest government tertiary care institution, with unusual stress symptoms. Objective: Evaluation of acute stress symptoms in children in the immediate postearthquake period. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done over 4 weeks and includes all the children from 1 to 12 years presenting with unusual physical or behavioral symptoms. Those with major injuries requiring admission were excluded. They were divided into two age groups. For older children (8-12 years) the 8-item Children Impact of Event Scale (CIES) was used for screening of stress. Unusual symptoms were recorded in younger children (1-8 years) as CIES is not validated < 8 years. Result: A total of 84 children (2.66%) out of 3154 had stress symptoms. Maximum attendance was noted in first 3 days (65.47%) and declined gradually. In children > 8 years, 48.78% had psychological stress, which was statistically significant on CIES scores without any gender predilection. Static posturing (41.86%), sleeplessness (32.55%), anorexia (9.30%), recurrent vomiting (13.95%), excessive crying (13.95%), or night-awakenings (4.65%) were found in younger children (n = 43) and three required admission. Conclusion: This study represent the first Indian data showing statistically significant psychological impact in older children (8-12 years) and various forms of physical stress symptoms in young children (1-8 years) following earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns had a deleterious impact on violence against women. Infact, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres even called a halt to the "global surge in domestic violence" and pressed for a domestic violence "ceasefire." The UN termed violence against women a "shadow pandemic." The National Commission for Women in India reported that there was a surge in complaints related to domestic violence during the lockdown. Officially reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg, as underreporting of these crimes is a major problem. In light of this background, the paper seeks to find a correlation between domestic violence and other crimes against women. It highlights that domestic violence and other crimes against women may have common underlying causal factors. Knowledge of the interlinkage between the two can help in devising strategies to counter all crimes against women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islamic personal laws allow a Muslim girl to enter into a marriage contract after reaching puberty. In contrast, civil and criminal laws prohibit girls under the age of 18 from being married and make sexual intercourse with minors a penal offence, irrespective of their consent. The issue of child marriage and the age of majority based on puberty has created controversy due to contradictory judgments of various High Courts. These judgments by High Courts in India paint an ambiguous picture about the applicability of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) to such Muslim Marriages. The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has petitioned the Supreme Court to examine whether personal laws can override criminal laws aimed at protecting minor girl children. As a result, the need for the uniform application of criminal laws relating to sexual offences against children in child marriages in the Muslim community has gained prominence. This article critically evaluates the issues of the age of consent for marriage for women, child marriage, and sexual abuse of minor children in marriage as per criminal laws, such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) and POCSO and their impact on Muslim personal law. The article concludes by stating that a Uniform Civil Code may not solve social evils like child marriages. We should focus on reforming personal laws by regulating marriage more broadly through harmonising personal and criminal laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the status of human trafficking in India will be presented. Human trafficking is one of the speediest expanding and profitable types of offence not only in India but Internationally too. This form of modern-day slavery contains miscellaneous exercises of human exploitation such as sex trafficking, forced labour, marriage, begging, and illegal organ transplantation. On the other hand, central reasons or vulnerability components of trafficking such as structural inequality, culturally sanctioned traditions, deprivation or financial insecurity, bonded labour, and gender violence, which are outlying and aggravated by disintegration, have stuck around unrecognised in intellectual and policy provinces. The significance of Human trafficking impacts all nations and destroys sufferers and society while affecting social, economic, and health costs. This paper argues that the focus is required to be conveyed to such underlying sources and manners by which this corruption is expanding. There is high need to look out for the laws made for crimes related to human trafficking, to protect the human of the trafficked persons in India. Hence, it furnishes some preventive actions to restrain and deal with the nuisance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the life of the victim's parents in Karnataka and to gain a better understanding of the consequences or impact of sex trafficking on them. Design/methodology/approach: A narrative research design was used in the study. Applying the method of narrative inquiry and the concept of three common spaces, the study explored the actual life situations and experiences of the victim's parents. The study covered three pairs of parents as participants from two cities, i.e. Mysore and Bangalore in the state of Karnataka. Data was collected through in-depth face-to-face interview, informal conversations, photographs and field notes. Findings: The study found that the victims' parents are living an isolated or socially alienated life with potential symptoms of behavioural, cognitive and emotional disorders. The study also found that the victim's parents fundamental right to live with dignity and respect have been violated. A significant finding in the study was that the parents did not cite or refer to any substantial efforts undertaken by non-governmental organisations in reintegrating the victim's families within their communities. There are many rehabilitative services available for the victims. Unfortunately, the victim's parents mostly remain unnoticed and unattended by therapists, social work practitioners and policymakers. An appeal is made to therapists, social workers, policymakers and individuals to support the victim's parents. Originality/value: All forms of human trafficking, especially sex trafficking has drawn considerable interest from researchers, policymakers, charities and non-government agencies. However, very little is known about the living conditions of the victim's parents, especially the psycho-social status in their families and neighbourhood. Therefore, it was pertinent to explore the life of the victim's parents including violation of their human rights. It highlights the importance of support from the society in reintegrating the victim's families with their communities. This paper contributes to the qualitative literature by providing narrative evidence, which will lead to better policymaking and designing effective support services for the victim's parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children under the age of 18 who are in dispute with the law and have been arrested on criminal charges or are involved in criminal conduct are referred to as juvenile delinquents. A police officer cannot legally arrest a minor; they must instead be captured. Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 who commit very terrible crimes are the only ones who may be prosecuted and sentenced as adults. After a psychological assessment of a juvenile offender’s criminal behavior, the next step in rehabilitation is to engage him or her in meditative practices like yoga and meditation. The Juvenile Justice Act of 2015 specifies in Section 15 that the Juvenile Justice Board may carry out a preliminary assessment to determine whether or not a child between the ages of 16 and 18 has the maturity, mental capacity, and physical ability to commit a heinous offense. To help them decide whether or not to try a kid as an adult, the board will consult with licensed psychologists and psychosocial specialists who have extensive expertise working with problematic youth. Experts have pointed out that children under the age of 18 are to be treated equally, as stated in the Juvenile Justice Act of 1995 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 2015. This is not in keeping with Article 14’s guarantee of equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Psychiatric Emergencies in Victims of Sexual Violence. Topics include the physical and psychological impacts of sexual violence, the approach to a victim of sexual violence, and assessment and management of psychiatric emergencies; and Sexual violence has long-term consequences, including mental health and behavioral problems, with intervention of sexual trauma associated with psychological problems.

Objective: To describe the profile of child sexual abuse (CSA) reported to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis of CSA reported in children aged below 18 years from January, 2019 to June, 2022. Results: Out of the 231 cases of sexual abuse reported, 115 (49.8%) were children below 18 years. Most of the victims were children from 10 to 15 years (37.4%), and there were only two male victims. In 89.6%, the perpetrator was known to the victim. Revictimization was seen in 31%. The reported perpetrators were friends (27%), neighbors (34.8%), strangers (10.4%), or fathers (7.8%). Penetrative abuse was seen in 58.3% of reports. External injuries were seen in 6.96%. Eight victims were pregnant and HIV screening was positive in one victim. Conclusion: Early identification of CSA is important to prevent revictimization. Children from all age groups can be victims of CSA. Perpetrators can hail from all walks of life of the children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse is a worldwide phenomenon, and India is not an exception. The magnitude of this grave crime is underrated because of under-reporting. The reality is that the incidence of child sexual abuse has reached epidemic proportions in India. In 2021 only there were 53,874 cases registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of 2012. To enable the all-around protection of children, the Indian government administrated the "Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)" Act of 2012. The act is a comprehensive piece of legislation designed to protect children from crimes including sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography. The degree to which this act has improved child protection is therefore an important issue for interrogation. Here, we consider the implications of the POCSO Act (2012) in enhancing children's protection from sexual abuse and pin-point the role of quality of life together with other social, economic, and demographic determinants in foreshortening POCSO incidences. The empirical analysis of the paper is conducted based on secondary data compiled from National Crime Records Bureau. Our empirical results reveal that the POCSO Act has reduced the Growth rate of incidents of sexual offences against children in India from 4.681% to −4.611. Moreover, our empirical results also reveal that by enhancing the quality of life it is possible to restrict the POCSO incidences across Indian states. In addition, favourable sex-ratio, the increased gross enrolment ratio at the elementary level, the improvement in the judiciary and Public Safety Score of the state also enables the state to restrict the POCSO incidences. Based on our empirical result we recommend that future policies could include, for instance, aiming to improve the quality of life as well as the law and order conditions of the state, and increasing the enrolment of the girl children in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically analyses the current status of rape shield laws in India. The article begins by assessing the effectiveness of these laws by examining the statutory provisions and judicial precedents in India using a doctrinal methodology. The article would then assess the status of rape shield laws and their jurisprudence in England and Wales, and Canada for a comparative assessment and to draw valuable lessons for the Indian jurisdiction. It would also help address growing concerns about the possible overreach of these laws on the defendant's right to a fair trial. Finally, the article will conclude with possible solutions for effectively implementing these laws in India while balancing the interests of the accused and the complainants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique hard and resilient nature of human teeth makes them useful for various forensic odontological examinations. Structural alterations, cultural modifications, pathological variations, and restorative material make them excellent forensic indicators about biological identity of the unknown deceased or living individuals. Variations in the anatomical details of teeth may be imprinted by defective dental development, traumatic damages, pathologies, and nonmasticatory or weaponry use of teeth during an individual's lifetime. Such imprints can be used for comparisons and identification in forensic anthropology. Deliberate dental alterations/modifications and mutilations practiced due to cultural or esthetic purposes have been reported from some contemporary human population groups as well as from some ancient documented skeletal collections. Willful dental modifications have been most commonly done by filling, drilling, grooving, grinding, staining, and chipping. These dental features may be useful only for differentiation of varied anthropological populations, but their forensic utility cannot be ignored, particularly when antemortem dental records are available for comparisons. Various dental developmental anomalies and defects, restorations, pathological signatures, and occupational markers definitely corroborate other methods of forensic identifications, but cannot be used as sole criteria for individualization of unknown human remains retrieved in medicolegal scenarios. This review article attempts to glean information about various characteristic features of teeth and their forensic significance to aid identification of unknown human dental remains found in forensic contexts; its concluding emphasis focuses on the role of such dental individualities in identification strategies for human remains excavated from an abandoned ancient well situated underneath a religious structure at Ajnala (Amritsar), India. The unique dental features, extrinsic staining of anterior teeth, low frequency of dental pathologies, and notched incisors of those excavated remains were suggestive of them belonging to slain sepoys from an historic military regiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trafficking has been increasing In most of the Countries and various measures are being taken globally to address the issue. Nearly two million children are trafficked every year and almost half of them are forced to work In brothel homes. The phenomenon of child trafficking is the result of issues in human development such as globalization leading to poverty and economic deprivation, lack of employment, access to basic resources, forced insecurity and entertainment Coupled with this is the perception of girl children as expendable commodities making them even more vulnerable. The governmental and non- governmental organizations have taken a number of initiatives to prevent this menace and rehabilitate the women and child victims. The present paper makes an attempt to understand the extent of the problem of Women and Child trafficking, causes and consequences of women and child trafficking in India and discusses in detail various strategies of prevention of women and child trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains one of the most pressing and far-reaching issues in India today. The trauma resulted from the sexual abuse can contribute to numerous adverse effects on children throughout their whole lifespan. In most cases, the child sexual abuse is not reported and the child is not provided with adequate therapeutic and protective assistance. And as a result, the child has to suffer alone in silence. The main aim of this paper is to discuss and evaluate the nature and all the significant aspects of child sexual abuse in the perspective of Rational Choice Theory. It aims to explore how familial and socio-cultural risk factors are associated with child sexual abuse. The paper will also discuss the ascending growth in the number of child sexual abuse in India during the Covid-19 and provide an overview of the studies done on child sexual abuse during the pandemic. Data for this paper were collected from the incidents of child sexual abuse reported in the newspapers, therefore all the data are secondary. The approach of the research is pragmatic and descriptive method to evaluate the information is chosen. The findings or the results display that there has been a huge spike in the number of child sexual abuse during Covid-19 in India; unemployment remains one of the main reasons for the abuse; in most cases, the offender is well-known to the victim, and there is a huge lack of information about the laws of the country regarding child sexual abuse. Thus, it is quite understandable from this study that Covid-19 and the lockdown have deeply influenced and fueled the already existed issue of Child Sexual Abuse in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Paediatric perineal trauma or Anogenital Injury (AGI) in the paediatric age group remains lesser reported in under-developed areas or rural areas of India. Most of these injuries remain under reported to tertiary care centres because of a social stigma or poor access to a health facility. Aim: To present the clinico-epidemiological parameters of AGI in children and to assess the outcome of staged and definitive management in these children, comparing the results with other similar studies. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study on data of 11 cases (age range 1-14 years, seven cases were girls and 4 cases were boys) of paediatric anogenital injuries,admitted at the tertiary care centre from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2020 were analysed. Data of all the patients, demographic details, relevant clinical history such as time of presentation, mode of injury and type of management, outcomes and complications was collected and studied. All the collected data was analysed by calculating mean±SD, frequency(n) and percentages(%). Results: Road traffic accident was the most common cause of AGI (n=5, 45.5%), followed by sexual assault (n=3, 27.3%). Wound infection in late presenters (n=5, 45.5%) was the most common complication affecting the outcome. Children with a primary diversion of the fecal stream or diversion colostomy (n=5, 45.5%) as an associated procedure had a better outcome. Primary repair without diversion (n=3, 27.3%) was noticed to have a high incidence of wound infection and anovaginal scaring. Conclusion: A high incidence of poor wound healing related to late presentation and malnutrition noted among these AGI cases belonging to rural or semi-urban settings. Management of these injuries, therefore, needs to be individualised on caseto- case basis. The diversion stoma formation seems to be considered in all high-grade anogenital injuries and selected lower grade injuries with evidence of secondary infection or poor healing of the primary repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses an intervention for rehabilitation of female survivors of violence that reconceptualizes rehabilitation through a feminist lens: the Sampoornata model of Dance Movement Therapy, which has been created and is being practiced by an NGO called Kolkata Sanved in Kolkata, India. Feminist rehabilitation is seen as a perspective which, in contrast to dominant rehabilitation praxis, recognizes that individual experiences of violence are embedded in patriarchal social structures and aims for survivors to internalize a sense of agency by deconstructing internalized patriarchal norms that legitimize violence against women and girls and stigmatization of survivors. The article highlights how Sampoornata enacts feminist rehabilitation through the medium of the body. Survivors reclaim the body from patriarchal control and reflect on the embodied experience in order to question patriarchal norms, remove self-blame, and negotiate a space for themselves within society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on a study which explored the prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) in India. Topics covered include a review of the data on the number of rape incidents in India per 100,000 citizens in 2020, how to recognize children who are victims of sexual abuse, and the long-term effects of sexual abuse on children.

Background: Human trafficking is a critical public health issue particularly pervasive in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (UP), which share a border with Nepal. Many NGOs are participating in prevention, protection, prosecution, and capacity building initiatives. The aim of this study was to identify factors hindering and enhancing the efficacy of anti-trafficking programs in the region.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal.Results: Thematic analysis revealed that the barriers hindering the anti-trafficking movement include police corruption, insufficient enforcement of national law, discrimination toward trafficking victims, inadequate funding, and lack of government involvement. Recommendations for overcoming these barriers were through empowering survivors and increasing cooperation, coordination, and communications between NGOs and the government.Conclusions: In mitigating these barriers and increasing survivor autonomy, anti-trafficking interventions have the opportunity to create individualized environments for those with an experience of trafficking to thrive. Ultimately, elevating community accountability, honoring individual autonomy, and recognizing the value of the persons with a lived experience of trafficking are critical as we continue to use a public health lens in the fight against human trafficking and for human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dearth of research on the frustrations, moral dilemmas and challenges non-Western teachers might face in the everyday praxis of peace education. To address this gap, this study analyses how violence is negotiated and understood in an Indian school seeking to build a culture of peace. Interviews with eight teachers and four students are analysed using grounded theory. Firstly, the study discusses a teacher's response to a student witnessing domestic violence. Thereby, it explores the limits of peace education in the face of home-school boundaries and societal stigmas. Secondly, the study discusses a teacher's attempt to help an abused child labourer. It questions the extent to which peace education can tackle systemic inequalities and the danger of the field reproducing exclusionary structures. Thirdly, the study discusses the intergenerational politics of children endorsing corporal punishment. It seeks to demonstrate how socio-economic pressures and historical legacies might lead to children legitimating violence against their own bodies. By exploring the fractures and gaps within peace education in an understudied non-Western context, the study aims to raise larger questions about the structures and norms hindering ideals of peace and the need for peace education to prioritise criticality, context and reflexivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on Naxalism, a form of communism, in India, investigating the impact on children of growing up in Naxalaffected areas and the often-overlooked issue of child soldiers in India. It also highlights the various laws, treaties and constitutional provisions in India concerning children and makes suggestions for ways of tackling the problems of child soldiering and Naxalism that can ensure more inclusive and harmonious growth and development in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tries to identify the role of institutional care in promoting resilience among a group of orphaned adolescents (n = 20). It was hypothesized that the orphanage care will have a significant role in contributing toward positive outcomes among participants. Twelve females and eight males in the age-range of 12–19 years and residing in five orphanages participated in focus groups. Before group discussions, participants were asked to draw self-portrayals to explore any changes that they perceive in themselves before versus after being placed in the institution. It was observed that by reducing participants' anxiety about their future, providing opportunities to focus on higher-order goals and furnishing other growth-fostering resources, the institutional care promotes a determination among the adolescents to achieve a positive change in their lives. This study makes a strong point in favor of considering the institutional care model as a viable option when others are unfeasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of victims about their experiences of abuse and neglect and how therapeutic intervention encourages disclosure. Narrative accounts given by 15 Indian adolescents during therapeutic interventions were analyzed by the Descriptive-Phenomenological-Psychological Perspective, which evoked three themes. The first theme explains how coping styles and personal resources contribute to the victims' dealing with trauma. The second theme explores to whom, when, and in what circumstances victims prefer to disclose. The third theme explains how "time" is perceived in the light of trauma. Results suggest that the Indian sociocultural system acts as a mold to shape the victim's perception and belief system, and causes confusion about whether the incident was at all abusive. Initiation to help victims should come from their parents and from adult stakeholders outside the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire has been known to mankind for about 400,000 years. Although the use of fire was known to ancient man, it is probably the potential fury of an unharnessed fire that made man bow before it. Burn injuries occur universally and have plagued mankind ever since antiquity till the present day. Burn injuries are the commonest cause of unnatural death in India and constitute a major cause of death and morbidity in the world and in this country too. Burns always have posed a threat to the sensitive human body. The present study is from the data collected of 48 burn cases which were autopsied at mortuary, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology SNMC Bagalkot. It was observed that majority of the victims were in the age group of 21-30 years, with female to male ratio of 5:1. Most of the victims were married and the majority were housewives, belonging to rural area and of class-I socioeconomic strata. Most of the burns took place in the kitchen, mostly due to kerosene stove burst. Body surface area involvement was more than 76% in maximum number of cases. Septicemia was the leading cause of death and majority of the victims died within a week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper (a) examines the evidence base around rehabilitation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), (b) identifies the extent that India’s proposed 2016 Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Bill reflects scientific and experiential evidence, and (c) discusses how gaps in the proposed bill can be informed by evidence. A rapid review of empirical studies on policies and interventions addressing rehabilitation of CSE victims was conducted. Although evidence is lacking, research suggests that cross-sectoral collaboration, training and monitoring law enforcement, psychotherapeutic interventions and care provided by short-term shelters, reintegration, and recognizing victims’ rights improve the success of rehabilitative efforts. The proposed legislation does not sufficiently reflect evidence around successful rehabilitation efforts and suggests that implementing the bill as it currently stands would change little of the existing structures to support victims in receiving adequate services or successfully reintegrating into society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 was passed by the Parliament of India amidst intense controversy, prolonged debates and street protests by child rights groups, as well as some members of Parliament. This legislative note gives an overview of the background and processes that led to the passing of this Act. It discusses the positive provisions in the Act, like change in nomenclatures to remove negative connotations, inclusion of several new definitions such as orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children, setting timelines for inquiry by the Juvenile Justice Board, streamlining procedures for adoption, inclusion of new offences committed against children and mandatory registration of Child Care Institutions. It discusses the controversial provision of "transferring" children between 16 and 18 years accused of "heinous offences" to the adult criminal justice system. It gives recommendations for law reform and better implementation of the law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines whether New Delhi’s engagement with the ongoing conflict in Syria (and Iraq) demonstrates that India is leaving behind its traditionally cautious and risk-averse foreign policy stance and becoming a more proactive international actor. India has not engaged actively with and has not tried to wield substantial influence over the course of this conflict; instead, after a moderate burst of diplomatic activity in the second half of 2011 India has largely tried to avoid involvement. There are some indications that India is trying to become more proactive in its region, in trade diplomacy, and toward a rising China; yet, results sometimes fail to meet ambitions. Accordingly, the article concludes that, on balance, India’s foreign policy orientation has not yet changed significantly; it remains a cautious, reactive international actor unwilling to engage with and actively shape the outcome of crucial crises or conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child Sexual Abuse is an alarming reality and is being increasingly reportedin India as well as globally. Pediatricians and allied medical professionals are often the first point of contact with abused children and their families. They have a key role in detecting Child Sexual Abuse, providing immediate and long-term care and support to the victims and their families. India has adopted the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) in 2012. It is a comprehensive law on sexual abuse, which expands the scope and range of forms of sexual offences, makes reporting of abuse mandatory and defines guidelines for the examination of victims. Pediatricians and health care professionals need to acquire necessary expertise for clinical evaluation of child sexual abuse, and its prevention, management and reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sociologies of India's missing children merit spatial and contextual examination. The sociological space into which a child goes missing is highly under-researched in India. Building on overarching narratives emerging from secondary sources and existing literature on Indian children's vulnerability and precarity, the article aims to evaluate the landscape of missing children. The analyses suggest that a number of interconnected sociologies contribute to the phenomenon of missing children - these children are mainly from the poorer backgrounds, who are kidnapped, trafficked, or lured largely for social, commercial, and sexual exploitation. This research was conducted to gain a deeper understanding into the problem of missing children in order to address the gaps that require intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to recent, Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, age of consent in India has been increased from 16 to 18 years. Implications of the amendments made, are vastly reflected in data collected in our study. Aim of the study was to evaluate data in relation to incidences of alleged sexually abused victims and to contemplate their socio demographic profile with history and examination and also to assess the effect of increase in age of consent for sexual intercourse. This study was conducted on 58 cases of alleged sexual assault brought to Seth G.S. Medical College, K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, from September 2013 to February 2015. Out of 58 victims of alleged sexual assault, the most affected age group was 10-19 years i.e. 34 cases (58.62 %), while 18 cases (31.03%) were in the age group of 16-18 years. The highest number of victims 18 (31.03 %) were brought for examination more than three weeks after incident resulting in loss of vital trace evidences. 58.62% of victims knew the assailant. In consensual relationships, breach of trust resulted in complaint of sexual assault, thus crime was registered under Section 375 IPC. Our study critically analyzes entailments of Criminal law amendment act, 2013; in relation to the data collected. Reductions in age of consent, in order to protect rights of young persons aged 16-18 years to engage in consensual sexual activity should be deliberated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article suggests that what most child victims of the December 26, 2004 tsunami need is not therapy but community-based activities to help restore their sense of safety, connection to caring adults, and hope for the future. Christian Children's Fund, working with local partners, established 240 child-centred spaces in affected areas of India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. These spaces provide swift psychosocial support by engaging children in activities intended to restore a sense of safety and predictability. The staff are local community volunteers. The centres also aim to benefit older children.

Despite the growing number of reported cases of rape and sexual assault against women in India, there is an insufficient understanding of the perspectives and responses of the Indian Criminal Justice System in general and the judiciary in particular. By employing a framework of 'complainant credibility', this paper examines High Court judgments and judges' perspectives in rape appeals. In placing a robust and systematic focus on one aspect of the Indian jurisdiction, this paper sheds light on how competing realities are understood by the judiciary to inform decision making about complainant credibility and suspect's guilt in affirming or overturning trial court decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of data on the economic value-added of sex trafficking is largely explained by the fact that trafficking for sexual exploitation is usually part of the non-observed economy. In fact, the very notion of economic “value-added” may seem inappropriate when applied to sex trafficking and is sometimes rejected by anti-prostitution groups. The legality or illegality of sex trafficking is irrelevant, as both legal and illegal production should be included in the systems of national accounts. By excluding illegal or underground activities, national accounts would simply exclude monetary transactions that actually take place and hence would provide a distorted picture of reality. In view of these facts, the basic structure of criminal organizations involved in cross-border trafficking business and principles of distributing the proceeds between the various levels in these organizations based on the empirical data obtained through the field survey in India and the UK was revealed. The survey comprised 124 respondents from India and the UK, using multi-stage stratified sampling technique. The study also showed the various investment practices, typical money-laundering schemes for proceeds generated from sex trafficking in India and the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Debates about secularism in post-independence India have often revolved around the visions of two of the country's founding fathers—M. K. Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. A sharp distinction is drawn between them by those who argue that the Gandhian model (or, what in common parlance and state discourses is called communal harmony) stems from Indian cultural and religious values, and lies beyond the realm of the state. The Nehruvian model, however, is a state project through and through. This article transcends this dichotomy to show that the association of Nehru and Gandhi with these models does not necessarily mean that secularism and communal harmony faithfully reflect their ideas and, despite the differences in their aims and methods, both models are united in the discourses and practices of the state as strategies of ‘governmentality’. After redefining the core of communal harmony as reciprocity (rather than tolerance), I show how it is performed, how it supplements the state's efforts to keep the peace in a religiously plural society by the force of law, and shores up the state's legitimacy deficit. However, the state's simultaneous involvement in Nehruvian and Gandhian projects is not an innocuous fact because it undermines the state's constitutional and secular obligations to non-discriminatory citizenship in the Indian nation. The argument is that the state's endorsement of dargah-centred Islamic piety as an exemplary site of communal harmony and particular ideas of the Indian nation legitimized by communal harmony ‘problematizes’ the national belonging of certain kinds of pious Muslims. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Every woman, man, youth and child has the human right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, without discrimination of any kind. This is enshrined in the Indian Constitution and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Enjoyment of the human right to health is vital to all aspects of a person's life and well-being, and is crucial to the realization of many other fundamental human rights and freedoms. Furthermore, the social rights of victims of crime and their sensitive needs for mental health support is based on the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, 1985 (Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly, non-binding principles upon member nations). Remarkable developments have taken place both internationally and nationally when it comes to prioritising child rights, but the links between child abuse, child labour and the care for a child's mental health are still absent. The role of mental health of rescued and victimised children is also absent in Indian case law. In cases of legislations concerning children and their rights, the author contends that mental health considerations must become an inextricable component of law, and therapists must be included in the legal framework both as an appreciation of evidence and for the future benefit of the child as a long term remedy. The author also stresses that specialist services should be made directly accessible to child victims, and professionals made available to provide individual support for each child.

Introduction: Rape and abuse of women are common occurrences, which, many a times go unspoken due to social stigma or fear of retribution. Rape is a crime not against a single human being but against the entire humanity. For granting justice to the rape survivor it becomes necessary that such matters are properly presented before the Courts of Law. Healthcare workers play an important role in this regard because they are the first person who examine the rape victims. They prepare a documented record of medical condition of rape victim and do relevant sample collection. Aim: The objective of this study is to analyse demographic and event characteristics of rape victims who presented to the Emergency Department in tertiary care, Delhi after sexual assault. Materials and Methods: Data was retrospectively collected from the medico legal register of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology between June 2010 to December 2013. Result: We noted a marked increase in the number of cases. Mean age of victims was 17 and most belonged to the lower socio-economic strata of the society. Use of sedatives and physical trauma was not common. Victims often knew the perpetrator of the event. Most (58%) of them reported within one day of the incident. Major degrees of perineal tears were seen in young victims. Conclusion: By understanding the demography of the sexual assault victims, we need to train our doctors for proper evidence collection not just in a government set up but also in private clinics, to help rape victims get justice and proper medical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]