‘Space for disclosure of sexual abuse shrunk during pandemic’

It is important to understand the barriers, says Vidya Reddy

The space for disclosure of sexual abuse for children has shrunk in the last one-and-a-half years due to the lockdown, said Vidya Reddy, co-founder, Tulir-Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, Chennai. She was speaking at a webinar, ‘Keeping Children Safe’, organised on Friday by Prajnya, an organisation that works for gender equality. Geetha Ramaseshan, advocate, Madras High Court, addressed the participants. Swarna Rajagopal, founder of Prajnya, was the facilitator. Answering a question whether child sexual abuse cases had increased during the pandemic in the era of online classes, Ms. Reddy said the digital technology being used had changed the kind of sexual violence which was probably happening. “However, it has not been reported and can be but speculation. But one thing has happened for sure during the lockdown — the space for disclosure has shrunk. Children used to speak to their friends on the school bus, teacher, neighbour or relative. That room has been curtailed. It is very unfortunate,” she said.