Context: A Lancet study revealed that over 30% of girls and 13% of boys in India faced sexual violence before the age of 18, highlighting a deep-rooted child safety crisis.
About Lancet Report on Sexual Violence Against Children:
What is the Study?
- Published in The Lancet, the report is a global meta-analysis covering over 200 countries (1990–2023), led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington.
- It estimates age-standardised prevalence of child sexual abuse globally for the first time using consistent metrics.
Key Findings:
- India:
- 30.8% of girls and 13% of boys experienced sexual abuse before 18.
- Highest prevalence for girls in South Asia.
- Global Average (2023):
- 18.9% females, 14.8% males experienced childhood sexual abuse.
- 70% of victims were first abused before the age of 18.
Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse:
- Leads to lifelong mental health disorders: depression, anxiety, PTSD.
- Affects education, trust in institutions, and future socio-economic participation.
- Creates an intergenerational trauma cycle, affecting family and community wellbeing.
- Highlights systemic failures in prevention, reporting, and survivor rehabilitation.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
- GS Paper 2 – Governance, Social Justice
-
- Issues related to children, POCSO Act, child protection mechanisms (NCPCR, ICPS).
- Policy gaps, Centre–State coordination, and data-led governance.
- GS Paper 4 – Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude
-
- Moral responsibility of institutions towards vulnerable populations.
- Case studies on ethical leadership, public trust, and safeguarding dignity of minors.
- Essay / Case Study
-
- Useful in essays on “Justice for Children”, “Safeguarding the Vulnerable”, and governance reforms.
