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Tag: Child Sexual Abuse

  • Vidya Balan supports Arpan’s #ProtectedByPOCSO campaign

    Vidya Balan supports Arpan’s #ProtectedByPOCSO campaign

    Mumbai – Bollywood actress Vidya Balan has once again joined forces with Arpan, India’s NGO addressing Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), to support their #ProtectedByPOCSO campaign. As part of Child Safety Week (14–20 November), this nationwide campaign, called #ProtectedByPOCSO, is carrying a powerful and clear message: Child Sexual Abuse is a punishable offense – Stop Right Now or Get Caught. Arpan’s bold #ProtectedByPOCSO campaign communicates a significant and urgent call to action against CSA offenders, delivering a powerful warning that they will face serious legal consequences under the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses, 2012) as well as social consequences. It also seeks to educate the public on what constitutes CSA, emphasizing that it is neither acceptable nor tolerable. By creating widespread awareness of CSA laws and protections, Arpan is aiming to deter offenders from continuing these crimes, ensuring they understand that they are being held accountable.

    Balan has kicked off the campaign with her compelling address: “As Arpan’s goodwill ambassador, I am proud to support its mission and the #ProtectedByPOCSO campaign because the time is now to speak up for child safety. Children deserve to grow up in a world free from the fear of sexual abuse. Too often, offenders take advantage of children’s innocence, manipulating and harming them under the guise of trust. This campaign is here to ensure that these heinous actions will not go unnoticed or unpunished. All children in India are protected under POCSO, and through this campaign, we are making it known that anyone who harms a child will face severe legal and social consequences. Let’s make this message loud and clear!” says Vidya.

    Appreciating Balan’s long-standing support, Arpan CEO & founder Pooja Taparia shared: “Vidya Balan’s unwavering commitment over the years in addressing the issue of Child Sexual Abuse has been instrumental in amplifying safety messages during Child Safety Week. Her support will give momentum to the #ProtectedByPOCSO campaign and will strengthen our mission to prevent Child Sexual Abuse. We are deeply grateful to her for being Arpan’s Goodwill Ambassador.”

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by Arpan (@arpan_csa)

     

  • Sakshi, (regd NGO) Creates Awareness on Child Sexual Abuse Launches #MakeHomeASafeSpace Campaign During COVID-19

    Sakshi, (regd NGO) Creates Awareness on Child Sexual Abuse Launches #MakeHomeASafeSpace Campaign During COVID-19

    India is a country where 1 out of 2 children have experienced sexual abuse before the age of 18, most often by family members or people closely known to them. In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, when every individual is required to stay at home, it becomes important to make home a safe place for the children. Sakshi – a rights based NGO, working towards preventing child sexual abuse, has launched a digital campaign #MakeHomeASafeSpace, communicating the importance of an accountable adult community, which is alert, informed and vigilant to secure their homes against potential abuse of children. 

    #MakeHomeASafeSpace is a part of #StopChildSexualAbuse initiative by The Rakshin Project of Sakshi, in partnership with the Directorate of NSS, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Rakshin Project, a Youth-Led Movement, Pan-India, aims to address the Denial, Silence, Stigma, and Shame associated with gender violence with a focus on preventing child sexual abuse, by exercising the Constitutional Right to Equality guaranteed to every citizen of India. 

    #MakeHomeASafeSpace, a video and visual campaign, rolled out across all social media platforms, addresses the spike in child sexual abuse cases and the demand for child pornography during COVID-19 lockdown and offers a solution through Each Teach Two action line of The Rakshin Project. 

    According to reliable reportage (https://www.childlineindia.org/uploads/files/childline-sees-a-50-percent-increase-in-the-calls-amidst-covid-19-outbreak.pdf) quoting ChildLine India (Ministry of Women and Child Development), within a period of 11 days of lockdown, over 3 lakh cases and 92000 SOS calls have been reported. In anticipation of such a breakdown, and in response to the changing environment requiring social distancing, Sakshi had adapted its offline education programme to an online model, for prevention of child sexual abuse and had begun to reach out to its students’ constituency through webinars in multiple states, and multiple cities. 

    #MakeHomeASafeSpace also talks about Sakshi’s fundraising initiative with Ketto, a crowdfunding platform.
    Talking about the campaign, Smita Bharti, Executive Director, Sakshi, says “The idea of reaching out to youth between 18 to 22 years is really simple. Each student we are reaching and educating to be a preventer has a family. Each of these students is tasked with a simple action. Each teach Two. One older and one younger family member. If families acquire a comfort around the language to prevent child sexual abuse, and can have a conversation on what to watch out for, and how to call out the behaviour, without succumbing to the barriers of denial, silence, shame and stigma, half the battle is won, and in turn we have a young generation taking charge of creating a constitutionally enabled secure home space, free of child sexual abuse.” 

    The fund raised through the social media awareness campaigns will be used for reaching out to, and educating students across the country, on how to become preventers of child sexual abuse. The funds will also be used for offering therapy and legal support to survivors.