Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Between 2001 and 2011, India recorded at least 48,338 cases of abuse of children, an increase of 336% from 2,113 to 7,112 incidents a year. Most of the violence takes place against girls in schools and orphanages run by the state. The abusers are principals, teachers, staff members, or older guests. This scenario has been denounced by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in the report " India's Hell Holes: Child Sexual Assault in Juvenile Justice Homes", presented today to Rashida Manjoo, UN Commission on the Rights human Special Envoy for violence against women. The delegate is in New Delhi as of yesterday through to the months' end.
The report cites data from the National Crimes Record Bureau. The Indian state with the highest rate of child abuse is the Madhya Pradesh: 9465 cases between 2001 and 2011. Next is Maharashtra, 6,868 cases; Uttar Pradesh, 5,949; Andhra Pradesh, 3977; Chhattisgarh, 3,688. According to the ACHR, the violence does not take place as isolated incidents, but continues over time. four basic factors are complicit in this trend: lack of inspections, hundreds of unregistered children, the presence of "phantom" supervisory authorities, the lack of separate facilities for males and females.
"The terrible brutality which is faced by children, boys and girls pains me - notes Card. Oswald Gracias, president of the Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) speaking to AsiaNews. Protection of children is at the heart of the education, social and health care ministry of the Catholic Church in India. "
Precisely for this reason the Church, said the cardinal, "through its institutions, organizations dioceses and religious congregations, has always helped to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Throughout the country we are committed to support programs and development to enhance women and defend their rights. Our goal is to save hundreds of boys and girls from human trafficking, and raise awareness among families and communities of the responsibilities towards their children. "