Emotional and Verbal Child Abuse in India: Critique of Existing Response Systems and Recommendations for Future
摘要
Children around the globe are vulnerable to different forms of abuse as evidenced by the high rates of exploitation, violence, and neglect. Though other types of abuse such as neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse are more widely acknowledged, emotional and/or verbal abuse (EVA) in children receives less attention in research and public discourse in India. This paper highlights the challenges in addressing EVA in the Indian context and suggests recommendations for practice at the individual, organizational, and policy levels. It explores the existing laws and provisions for child abuse in India and comments on the barriers to tackling the phenomenon at the individual and societal level, with a special emphasis on the socio-cultural challenges.