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what we do


 

Background
Childhood sexual abuse is not only a violation of a child’s body but of the trust, implicit in a care giving relationship. This violation can have a significant impact on how the child as a victim and later on as an adult survivor sees and experiences the world. The effects of childhood sexual abuse can be damaging but if appropriate support is provided, the effects are not permanent.

However, the facts regarding its prevalence are very startling:

More than 53% children report facing one or more forms of sexual abuse
50% of sexual offenders were known to the victim or were in positions of trust (family member, close relative, friend or neighbour).
Onset of abuse was from 5 years of age
Boys were equally at risk as girls.
Source: National Study on Child Abuse in April 2007, Ministry of Women and Child Development
Click here to view the detailed National Child Abuse Study 2007

According to WHO (World Health Organization), India has the world's largest number of sexually abused children, with a child below 16 years raped every 155th minute, a child below 10 every 13th hour and one in every 10 children sexually abused at any point of time.

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.

For more information on Arpan's Child Sexual Abuse programs please click here.

To view our Annual Reports of previous years please click below.

Annual Report 2008-2009


Annual Report 2009-2010

Annual Report 2010-2011


Annual Report 2011-2012

For more information on Child Sexual Abuse please read the links below.

Child Sexual Abuse: A Definition
Aware Parents, Caretakers and Children Can Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
Aware Parents and Caretakers Can Better Help A Sexually Abused Child
Recognizing that the child has been sexually abused
Helping the child talk about abuse
Seeking professional support to help the child heal
Understanding, Preventing and Coping with Child Sexual Abuse - A Short Recap
Myths and Facts about Child Sexual Abuse
Statistics of prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse in India
Laws on Child Sexual Abuse in India
Resources Available
Related Links
Glossary

Click here to download Arpan's pamphlet on child sexual abuse in pdf format

Visit Arpan's blog on Child Sexual Abuse
http://arpancsa.blogspot.com