The Critical Need for School-Based Interventions to Safeguard Children Against Sexual Abuse

Abstract

In conjunction with the constitutional guarantees, India has a sturdy legalapparatus and commitment to a multitude of international covenants toaddress and ensure child protection. However, it is contemptible thatincidents of child sexual abuse are rampant across the country. This paperargues that schools, as pivotal social spaces for children, can play a key rolein sensitizing children, parents, teachers and communities to this seriousand much stigmatized issue. It is suggested that teachers should becapacitated and trained to provide age appropriate sexual health educationto children as well as to recognize the warning signs of any kind of sexualassault or abuse on children.