Hyderabad: Experts are cautioning parents and guardians about the deceptive nature of “grooming,” a predatory tactic used by child sexual abusers. These individuals intentionally manipulate and exploit vulnerable children, often targeting their emotional needs and isolating them from support systems. By building trust and affection, abusers gain access to their victims, ultimately leading to sexual abuse. According to the experts, identifying the warning signs of grooming at the earliest are crucial to protect children and prevent these abuses. ‘Grooming’ is the first step in the process of sexual abuse. Perpetrators of child sexual abuse often “groom” their victims to sexually exploit them. They manipulate vulnerable children by targeting their age, maturity level, and family situation and try to gain their trust in order to get close enough to harm them. “Grooming is a common tactic used by abusers,” said Dr Manchala Hrishikesh Giri Prasad, associate professor of child psychiatry, Niloufer. “It involves slowly building a relationship with a vulnerable child to manipulate them and abuse them. Common tactics include giving gifts, providing more attention and making the child feel special.” Prior to the Pocso Act, there was no particular legal provision for children and existing laws were inadequate in addressing crimes against minors. “Earlier, any sexual intercourse was considered as a rape. To address all the existing legal gaps, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was enacted in 2012, comprehensively dealing with the issue of sexual offences against children,” said Dr Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, a former Bombay High Court Judge and the author of ‘Decoding Child Sexual Abuse and POCSO Act.’ “In grooming cases, abusers often pressure victims into secrecy about their relationship,” the former judge revealed. “Even if both the victim and the accused engage in a sexual relationship willingly, consent can’t be an excuse to the perpetrator until the child reaches the age of 18.” She further noted that with the rise in technology, abusers exploit the vulnerability of the child through social media platforms. This grooming tactic was evident in a recent court verdict. A minor girl in Hyderabad was allegedly followed and sexually assaulted by a 32-year old man, according to a complaint filed by the victim’s father. The accused, who was already married, befriended a 16-year old girl while she was staying as a tenant in his house. The accused allegedly followed the girl in the name of love and pressured her into a relationship. Later, he had taken the girl to a lodge and sexually assaulted her. When the girl’s father learned of this, they moved out. The accused reportedly threatened the father and blackmailed him with photos of his daughter. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of `5,000. Legal experts stressed the importance of raising awareness about the severe implications of the POCSO Act, which includes life imprisonment or even the death penalty, regardless of consent. “Abusers often target children with disabilities or those in distress, particularly those aged between 5-17, who crave emotional support,” said Dr S. Shanmukhi, a senior clinical psychologist at KIMS. She explained that grooming involves seven stages: “targeting the victim, building rapport, fulfilling their needs, isolating them from their support network, desensitising the victim through inappropriate physical contact, abusing them, and maintaining power.” She further stressed the importance of vigilance on the part of parents and teachers in recognising these warning signs. “Early education on these issues is needed in empowering children to protect themselves and prevent such tragic incidents,” she added. Mental health experts revealed that these victims suffer from long-term depression, anxiety disorders and may lose interest in marriage as they grow older. This suffering is often compounded by guilt. They further claimed that parents informing the children about appropriate physical contact (good touch and bad touch), sex education, along with open discussions about healthy relationships, is important to address this issue.Grooming involves seven stages — targeting the victim, building rapport, fulfilling their needs, isolating them from their support network, desensitising the victim through inappropriate physical contact, abusing them, and maintaining power.Parents and teachers must be vigilant in recognising these warning signs.Child abuse, mental health experts say, could make victims suffer from long-term depression, anxiety disorders and may lose interest in marriage as they grow older.
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