Goemakrponn desk
MARGAO: Bailancho Ekvott has expressed grave concern over the alarming rise in child sexual abuse, despite the enactment of the POCSO Act 2012.
Auda Viegas of Bailancho Ekvott said the innocence of children makes them vulnerable to predators who exploit their trust, often pretending as boyfriends/lovers.
“These children, unable to discern the ulterior motives of adults, are often swayed by peer influence and fall prey to the deceptive notion of a ‘relationship’ crafted by these predators,” she states.
Viegas says it is heart-wrenching to witness hard-working parents sending their children to school, unaware that a stalking predator has already intercepted and lured their child away from safety.
“These predators, under the guise of love, coerce children into surrendering to their demands, setting the stage for subsequent acts of blackmail and exploitation. The child is often pressured into sharing explicit images or meeting the predator in secluded locations/hillsides late night where they are introduced to substance abuse and subjected to sexual abuse sometimes even recorded on video by the predator’s accomplices,” she pointed out adding all this adds to the complexity of child abuse.
She further says the investigative process poses significant challenges for officers tasked with eliciting information from these sly predators. Medical professionals are bound by stringent protocols when conducting examinations on children.
“Yet, when they overstep their medical duties and caution that such examinations could result in the predator’s imprisonment, it can lead to a child’s refusal to cooperate due to fear of retribution,” she said.
Viegas says society must acknowledge that these children have been beguiled by adult predators with false promises of marriage, leaving them unaware of the dire health consequences that ensue from such abuse. Addressing these health issues swiftly and providing all-encompassing care for these young victims is imperative.
“The arrest of an accused predator should not overshadow the pressing need to support and rehabilitate the child victim. Our collective efforts must focus on preventing such abuses and ensuring justice and healing for those affected,” she says.
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