India: report shows nearly 50,000 children sexually abused in past decade

The latest case of a five-year-old girl in Delhi, kidnapped and raped repeatedly for 48 hours by two men, who were later arrested by police, has shocked India, yet it is just one of many cases that have been reported recently. Fr Dominic D'Abreo, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, said: "We are very sad. The whole country is in shock. These episodes ruin the name and image of the nation. People of every religion are shocked and protest. The government and NGOs are making efforts to eradicate the phenomenon. It is urgent to work on awareness in society at the grassroot level, not just at a high level. Everyone must take responsibility."

According to statistics from the Asian Centre for Human Rights, a total of 48,338 cases of rapes of children was recorded in the decade 2001-2011, with an increase of 336% of the cases between 2001 and in 2011 . These are only cases which have been reported and verified.

Fr D’Abreo said he thought the phenomenum indicated "a culture that relies entirely on money, pleasure, power," and has neglected the value and the profound meaning of human life. "Life is degraded: one no longer asks what meaning does it have" - a fundamental question for the life of every man.

He said the Church was working hard to promote education and awareness, especially in the family, which was the basis of society but said there was much more work to be done.

For more information see: www.achrweb.org/

Source: Fides/ACHR