Understanding and preventing crimes against children

13/01/26

Blog

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No country in the world has managed to wipe out crime against children, simply because of the acute vulnerabilities of children. Whether it is juvenile crime in India or other incidents, child crime occurs globally, across diverse cultures and societies with varying legal frameworks and enforcement capacities. Many children remain hidden victims due to fear, stigma, or lack of awareness, making detection and reporting difficult. What is crucial is that action on child crimes is not limited to slogans or fear campaigns that paralyse more than they prepare – something that is being increasingly noted in the Indian context. Here, policymakers, people, communities, and changemakers are coming together to make a difference to strike at the heart of violence against children.

Believing the child

Children rarely lie about abuse. They may lack the words or the ability to express the incidents, or even fear blame, but their discomfort is genuine. When a child speaks, even indirectly, the first response to any complaints of violence against children must be calm belief by parents, elders and authorities, not interrogation. Creating emotionally safe spaces — in homes, schools, community centres — makes disclosure possible. Prevention begins the moment silence becomes unnecessary. Questions can come later. Reassurance must come first.

Behind every policy seeking to wipe out child abuse in India lies a child who needs to be heard without evaluation. When children confide, adults often rush to fix or explain. What they actually need first is presence. Let the story unfold at the child’s pace. Then move together toward reporting or help. The trade-off is cultural discomfort versus prevention. Talking about abuse feels awkward — until you realise silence trains the next offender, perpetuating child abuse in India.

Understanding how child predators work

Child abuse follows grooming sequences that are depressingly predictable. An adult builds trust with the child and family—offers to help with homework, gives gifts, and volunteers to babysit. Boundaries erode gradually. A hand on the shoulder becomes a hand on the thigh. Comments about appearance become sexualised. Private time that seemed incidental reveals itself as engineered.

The abuser then locks the child in silence through threats (“Your mother will blame you”) or false intimacy (“This is our special secret”). The profile defies every stereotype. Abusers are not identifiable by appearance, income, education, or faith.

Certain children face a higher risk, not because of anything they do but because predators calculate. Children shuttling between divorced parents, children whose single mother works nights, children with speech delays or disabilities that limit their ability to report—these draw predators the way an open window draws a thief. The vulnerability is structural.

For every individual: a personal roadmap

1. Learn the signs – Read credible child-protection material once a year; update your understanding as threats evolve.

2. Create visibility – Keep helpline numbers displayed at home, work, and public spaces.

3. Build conversations – Talk about boundaries and respect long before adolescence.

4. Observe, don’t assume – Notice behavioural shifts; they are data.

5. Act promptly – Report suspicion early; perfection is less important than protection.

6. Support survivors – Believe, accompany, and respect confidentiality.

7. Volunteer or donate – Strengthen the ecosystem that supports frontline responders.

Additionally, every citizen should know at least these five emergency contacts in order to report child crime incidents: 1098 — Childline (24×7 national helpline); 100 / 112 — Police emergency; 181 — Women’s helpline (often extends to child support); and the nearest hospital or NGO with child services When enough individuals act on these steps, systemic change accelerates from the ground up, helping bring down juvenile crime in India.

Conclusion

Child protection is not a project with an end date. It’s a moral infrastructure that must evolve with time and stay in tune with emerging patterns of violence against children. It should also be seen as ordinary courage practised consistently. And when enough ordinary people choose it, extraordinary safety becomes possible. Bal Raksha Bharat protects children from abuse, exploitation, trafficking, child marriage, and child labour through prevention, timely response, and community-led protection systems. Through its child abuse prevention services, it supports children in street situations by providing shelter, education, healthcare, and counselling, while linking families to government social schemes.

The organisation develops local workforce capacity through training and promotes child-friendly policies. It advocates for the effective implementation of child protection laws, including those against sexual offences and child marriage. Bal Raksha Bharat’s child abuse prevention services also focus on online child safety by training teachers and children in digital security. In 2024-25, it protected over 30,000 children and reached around three million across 11 states in India.

Naveen Kumar

“Naveen is an SEO expert and digital marketing analyst at Bal Raksha Bharat with a passion for helping businesses grow online. With a data-driven approach, he specializes in boosting search rankings, driving traffic, and optimizing digital strategies. Follow for tips on SEO, content, and marketing trends."