• Street children and youth

Street children and youth

"Annexes include details of focus group discussion guidelines for facilitators.."

This document presents the findings of a nationwide study into the extent and characteristics of child abuse and girl neglect in India. The study is based on surveys of around 18,000 children, young adults and stakeholders in 13 states of India. Children interviewed were: children in a family environment but not attending school; children in schools; children in institutional care; working children; and street children.

Overall, the study finds that two out of every three children were physically abused, while 53.22% children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse and half reported emotional abuse. Across different kinds of abuse, it is young children in the 5-12 year group who are most at risk of abuse and exploitation. Children in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi reported the highest incidence of physical abuse and sexual assault. Children on street, children at work and children in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault, while the majority of abuse cases take place within the family environment, the perpetrators being close family relatives.

The report concludes with recommendations for government on actions required to address child abuse and girl neglect in India. These include recommendations on the need for:

• the reform and creation of national legislation and establish protocols to protect children
• outreach and support services
• tracking missing children and linking services better to ensure that children are supported
• advocacy and awareness raising
• efforts to increase enrolment and retention of children in schools, as this is the safest place for children
• measures to increase monitoring to protect institutionalised children.
  
  
  

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