Child Sexual Abuse: The Betrayal that Emerges from Ones Own Home

Abstract: Child sexual abuse (CSA) - A serious, deeply disturbing widespread problem, which is heavily under-discussed and unreported about. Especially the ones where one grows up, where one learns to live - within their own homes, where trust is often betrayed by one, they are taught and supposed to trust. A crime which leaves the minor victims soul to suffer in silence. In this research paper, we will understand Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), its definition, addressing the heartbreaking truth of how the perpetrators are trusted and known people. Understanding this wide spread issues, consequences that the victim has to bear lifelong. The psychological impact of abuse - it's consequences that are long-term - both physically and emotionally, the toll that it brings on the victims mental health and the physiological changes that come with the trauma. We further explore the concept of grooming and it's six stages, understanding the strategic actions taken step by step by the perpetrator and see how these manipulative actions play with the victims mind and life . Proceeding to breaking down of what consent means focusing on what a child understands from that word. We will also be talking about ‘freeze response’ by the victims - A very often misunderstood and misinterpreted action, causing the victims to often feel the need to either over explain or shut down completely. Understanding a issue like CSA and trying to recognize and look for it around us or worse even go though it are two different things and experiences, so we also focused on the factor where we also shed light on recognizing the warning signs of potential child sexual abuse while also understanding how we individuals can try helping the victims who have been through such gruesome experience with care and gentle responses. We have also provided a simplified analysis of significant sections from the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) which will help one with understanding of the act better and be better informed and lastly our paper also includes real life examples with three cases studies for better comprehension of how law (POCSO Act) can help and guide you with better depth while understanding this issue.