Fighting Demons

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On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court ruled that a person convicted of raping a child cannot be given the death penalty. The decision has reignited a long standing ethical dispute. The judges themselves were almost evenly split on the issue, five voted against the death penalty, four in favour of it. While the ruling has found some support, its detractors are many. That includes both presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain. While the ruling has set the world talking, it got me thinking about similar issues closer to home.

The sexual assault on a six year old girl traveling on a school bus in Hyderabad, elicited shocked reactions from people earlier this month. The convent school student was the last child on the bus when she was reportedly abused - and possibly raped - by the bus driver. Only six months ago, a bus attendant raped another six year old on another Hyderabad school bus.

Soon after news of the latest incident got out, ABVP activists beat up the accused. The outrage and disgust felt by citizens poured into the discussion forums and comments section on news websites. It was heartening to know how many people were moved enough to comment, to demand action or promise help. But as I read through the articles, and comments, I could not rid myself of one nagging thought... What's wrong with this picture?

Comment after comment echoed the belief that only the most severe and violent punishment can be an effective deterrent. Some suggested that the offender must be castrated or be given the death penalty. One went as far as to say that he be administered a lethal injection, and that this should be telecast live for others to watch. Some of these ideas, though in no way sanctioned by law, are expressed every time such a case is reported. Another commonly expressed view held that only someone 'sick' could perpetrate such a crime... that the offender must be other than 'normal' i.e. mentally ill.

Herein lies the paradox. Is it not too simplistic to assume that a problem as complex, widespread and well-hidden can be countered in such ways? If the problem is indeed in the mind, will divesting an offender of sexual organs ensure that he will not abuse children in any other way? Rape is not by any means the only way in which minors are assaulted. Molestation can leave an equally deep scar on a child's psyche.

Though these are the suggestions of concerned citizens who want to see their children safe, would such punishment strike at the heart of the problem? If not, it is but a gruesome form of revenge. And while society might like to assuage its collective conscience by meting out such punishments, of what use is revenge to an abused child....or one that will be abused tomorrow? Punish offenders, by all means. But for punishment we need convictions. And that means cases have to be registered and the crime has to be reported.

The two most important factors in this chain of events are obviously children and their care-givers. It is in fact not surprising that the Hyderabad incidents occurred on board school busses. It's only obvious that an abuser would seek to put him/herself in a position of close contact with children, in unsupervised situations. Yet, in India we seem to have few qualms entrusting our children to the care of strangers. Few schools put a suitable supervisor on board their buses. There is often the token bus attendant on board in addition to the driver, but in many cases, as in Hyderabad, it is the attendant who abuses. That said, let me not fall into the trap of suggesting that all abusers are strangers... it's a well known that abusers are often known to the children, and can be members of their family.

So the first, essential steps to counter abuse or catch it early, begin in the home. Children like the six year old in the school bus cannot be expected to process what is happening and tell their parents given the kind of conditions that prevail in most Indian homes, or for that matter in most of our schools.

Imagine, if you can, the helplessness of a child, being regularly abused on the school bus. She shrinks from the bus driver every time he comes near her, and wishes to tell someone about it. But when she musters up courage to talk to her parents about it, she suddenly doesn't know what to say. Perhaps the driver has told her not to tell anyone, threatened her or made it seem a shameful 'secret'. Her tongue sticks in her throat and overcome with confusion and shame, she mumbles something about the bus driver hitting her, and runs off.

Children have no ready vocabulary to explain to their parents/care givers what is happening to them. It is for us to give them that vocabulary, teach them what is an appropriate or inappropriate touch and that even family members have to respect his/her physical boundaries. But as children in India, we learn that talking about one's body is 'dirty'. Young children are not taught to name body parts, and they are not made to feel comfortable discussing such matters with their parents. Even the phrases we teach children for certain bodily functions - chee chee - mirror our distaste for suck talk.

Some sections believe that sex education is a decadent western concept that our children could well do without. The few schools that try to introduce awareness amongst children run into trouble. Angry parents demand that the government review the curriculum, and stop the 'corrupting influence'. Teachers who lack the requisite training to handle such situations, feel wretchedly uncomfortable and join in the chorus. By the end of the process, the word 'sex' is purged entirely and the education is purged of its purpose.

In some things at least, we can learn from the west. In 1994 seven year old Megan Kanka was brutally raped and murdered by a known sex offender in the US. The public outcry that followed resulted in what's known as Megan's Law. It requires the public to be notified when a dangerous sex offender is about to be released into the community. The information provided includes a picture, name, an address, and the nature of his/her crime.

I am not suggesting that we provide sex education to six year olds. I am asking that we make them more aware, and give them some fighting chance if confronted by such situations. I am suggesting that we make ourselves more aware, and equip ourselves, so that we can fight for them. When we take one offender off the streets, the abuse stops not just for one child, but potentially for many.