Inspite of such grim statistics, currently there are only four organizations in India working on the issue in a focused manner. Hence the need is great to make people aware about this malaise in society and bring the issue out in the open and talk about it.

Arpan’s Strategies and Activities

Arpan is currently working in Mumbai, with a child centric model of intervention in the area of child sexual abuse with a balanced emphasis on prevention and healing components. While the focus is on children, Arpan also understands the need for reaching out to adult survivors of child sexual abuse in order to support them in an adequate manner and prevent any further re-victimization as well as enable them to heal from the impact of child sexual abuse.

The projects and intervention at Arpan is guided by the following 4 interdependent strategies namely:  
a. Direct Preventive and Psychotherapeutic services for children and adult survivors of sexual abuse and their families;
b. Creating sensitization on Child Sexual Abuse with relevant civil society groups;
c. Training and Capacity Building of relevant stakeholders;
d. Research and Advocacy at the systemic level

Arpan empowers children, teachers, parents, NGO professionals and other care givers in multiple setting like schools, NGO set ups, institutions etc. with knowledge, skills and attitude to prevent instances of child sexual abuse and provide adequate support to children who have been victims. Along with empowering relevant stakeholders, Arpan also offers psychotherapeutic support through trained, qualified therapists to children and adult survivors of sexual abuse and their families.

Direct preventive and psychotherapeutic work, is supported by the training of trainers and capacity building projects wherein teachers, NGO professionals and interested individuals undergo intensive training in conducting the Arpan preventive module of Personal safety education within their respective set ups which facilitate the replication of the Arpan model of intervention.

Arpan also has initiated a core committee of experts including lawyers, social workers etc. who are working on systemic level advocacy and for relevant change in the existing substantial and procedural laws on child sexual offences in India.

 The entire model of intervention at Arpan is dependent on a strong inclination on research and resource development wherein intensive data analysis, research studies, reviews of relevant secondary literature, development of child centric resource material, modules, manuals etc.  are focused on.

Arpan has constantly reviewed and improved their programmes and strategic direction to suit the requirements of the various stakeholder groups across socio-economic and cultural set ups.