Abstract

“Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow”, said Jawaharlal Nehru. But children tend to face many challenges from their early stages themselves, with respect to livelihood, education, discrimination and maltreatment, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, religion or identity. Such psychological, sexual or physical maltreatment of a child amounts to child abuse. This has been rooted in economic, cultural and social practices and is found all over the world, and different jurisdictions have given different definitions as to this very term. There are many types of abuses against children due to which they are being affected in numerous ways. That being said, the person who abuses/ the abuser is called the perpetrator of the abuse. The Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, are two of the major substantial Indian laws that define punishments for offences against children. Currently, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Child Welfare Committee look after children who are in need of protection and care. This paper examines the research studies available with regard to child abuse. It introduces the topic, followed by literature review, methodology used throughout the research, questions to be covered and discussion of child abuse in detail through headings and subheadings. The current paper would stress the point that failure to recognise the abuse and treat the abuser at nascent stages might lead to potential harm to the victim, that she/he has to suffer for their entire life. In lieu of the same, the researchers opine that enactment of stringent regulations as well as the implementation of laws might pave the way to provide quality and peaceful life to a child.

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