KATHERINE MANUEL
Across India, November 14 is traditionally a day of joy, a time when children eagerly pick out their favourite bright clothes and look forward to a day of fun and games. Children’s Day is meant to honour their innocence, advocate for their rights, and promote their overall health, education, and well-being. This year, however, the celebratory spirit feels painfully absent, particularly in Goa. A spate of recent sexual assaults on minor girls, some as young as three years old, has shaken the state to its core and sparked widespread public outcry.
EXISTING SAFEGUARDS
Goa is not new to child protection laws; the Goa Children’s Act of 2003 predates national legislation in some respects, including the POCSO Act of 2012. SCAN-Goa, a voluntary organisation in child protection and women’s safety, currently manages the Victim Assistance Unit (VAU), a mandate under the Act. Emidio Pinho, one of the founders of SCAN-Goa and the head of the VAU, explains the workings of both organisations.
“The primary role of the VAU is to ensure that a child who has experienced abuse does not have to navigate the criminal justice system alone. When a case is reported, the VAU’s assistance is sought by the police while recording the statement of the child and during the process of investigation. SCAN-Goa works closely with the VAU and contributes professional expertise, institutional coordination, and direct intervention in cases involving children. While the VAU provides the framework for victim assistance, SCAN-Goa brings together legal, psychosocial and rehabilitation services.” Pinho adds that SCAN-Goa works towards prevention through trainings, awareness sessions and work with communities.
HIDDEN DANGERS
Understanding where and how children are at risk is the first step. Peter Borges, founder of the Human Touch Foundation and former chairperson of the Goa State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR), specifies some of the complaints that the Directorate of Women and Child Development (DWCD) receives: “The DWCD can receive complaints of sexual abuse, physical violence, emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, child labour, trafficking, forced begging, child marriage and online exploitation.”
While the risk increases in tourism-heavy areas, many cases emerge closer to home. Shashikant Punaji, the current Chairperson of the GSCPCR, talks about how abuse often occurs within the child’s inner circle: “We receive complaints of abuse in cases where parents of a child have marital issues or court cases and the child suffers the consequences. In many of the cases, the abuse is committed by a relative or a trusted person in the family. In terms of areas, schools and playgrounds where children are not carefully supervised and monitored are areas of high risk.”
GAPS IN PROTECTION
On paper, Goa has the laws and institutions to protect children; in practice, gaps stand between a child and timely help. “I would say that Goa has a reasonably established child protection framework. We have legislation, statutory institutions, trained professionals and organisations working in this sector,” says Pinho. “However, the gap is not necessarily the absence of institutions; it is the availability of adequate resources, accessibility of services and coordination between these institutions,” he says.
Borges points to delays in coordination between departments and seeks accountability: “I have witnessed prolonged waiting, referral problems and an ordeal extending into the early morning. Departments must publish decisions, deadlines and action taken while protecting the child’s confidentiality. Though an arrest is essential, it does not complete the State’s responsibility towards the child.” Another shortcoming is that when an incident is reported, various authorities and stakeholders rush to intervene for various reasons, but once initial attention fades, victims and families are left to fend for themselves.
Punaji notes that reporting is uneven. “One of the biggest challenges is that only when the parents are well-educated will they come forward and register a complaint. When it comes to families from low-income groups or marginalised sections, they do not report these cases.” Since abusers are often family members or trusted persons, many families prefer to cover up the crime. Yet, early reporting is crucial. “I would particularly encourage people not to wait until they have complete information or evidence before reporting a concern,” urges Pinho. “Even a suspicion of abuse should be brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities. Early reporting can prevent further victimisation and further prevent more victims from the perpetrator,” he adds.
COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
Protection of our children cannot be delayed further, and much of a child’s day-to-day safety rests with the adults around them. “Parents should be aware of where their children are going, with whom, and when they will return. Open communication between the parents and child is very important to ensure their safety,” says Punaji. “Listen without blame, teach body boundaries, and look beyond ‘stranger danger’,” stresses Borges. “If a child discloses abuse, remain calm, reassure the child, ensure safety, and avoid repeated questioning. Seek medical assistance and report the incident promptly. Never negotiate a private settlement.”
The best way to celebrate Children’s Day this year is by doing our part: parents who listen, teachers who notice, and caregivers who are present make Goa a safe space for kids to be themselves.
