Be Safe, Be Fearless

My uncle thinks I’m cute, so he likes playing with me. But I don’t like the way he hugs and kisses me. He makes me do things and says this is our little secret. I don’t know what to do. I’m scared to tell mummy because she likes my uncle and won’t believe me.”
A seven-year child’s words posted on a Bangalore based Madhyam’s website

Someone may be abusing you or as a parent you may be anxious about your child or you may have been abused as a child but the memories still come back to you.

How do we understand Child Sexual Abuse? It is a crime hidden within the family. Children in the age group of 5-12 years are at great risk and most abuse is pre-planned. Sexual abusers of children are generally serial and long-term abusers.
Children have very few ways of confronting or escape. Adults tend not to believe them. As adults, survivors of such abuse keep going through the trauma and need to be understood and supported.