The state's victim assistance unit (VAU) in Goa has disclosed that almost 30% of survivors of child sexual abuse are male. The VAU analyzed 3,949 cases documented between 2014 and 2026, which were referred by various authorities. Female survivors constituted 70.8% of the cases.
Breaking Stereotypes
VAU coordinator Emidio Pinho stated that people are often shocked to learn that boys can also be victims of child sexual abuse (CSA). "Society often perceives boys as strong and masculine, and therefore not vulnerable to abuse. In some cases, even parents find it difficult to believe that their son could be a victim of CSA," said Pinho.
Perpetrator Profile
The VAU has encountered a wide range of perpetrators, from illiterate individuals to highly educated working professionals. This diversity underscores that abuse can occur in any environment, regardless of the perpetrator's background.
Challenges in Awareness
During its prevention and awareness work, the VAU has faced several roadblocks. Some schools are reluctant to conduct joint awareness sessions for boys and girls, while others permit sessions only for girls. The unit stressed the need to create awareness among boys so that they neither become victims of abuse nor perpetrators of violence.
"Such awareness sessions should be conducted jointly in schools so that children grow up to become more responsible adults, develop mutual respect for one another, and contribute towards creating a safer society for all," Pinho said.
Report Findings
The report analyzes trends in sexual abuse, domestic violence, kidnapping, assault, trafficking, and related offences, including victim demographics, perpetrator relationships, and geographic distribution. Of the cases documented, the most common place of incidence was the victim's residence, accounting for 46.3% of cases.
"This refutes the myth of one's home being the safest place," said Pinho. Public spaces such as roads, lanes, and parks accounted for 24.6% of cases. A significant number of cases were also reported from private spaces such as hotels and rented rooms.
"This indicates a lack of accountability wherein the onus lies on hotel establishments to restrict the entry of children with unrelated adults as per the Goa Children's Act, 2003," said Pinho.
