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RAPE IN CHILDREN

NCJ Number
62899
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 3 Issue: 34 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1979) Pages: 671-677
Author(s)
M N MEHTA; M R LOKESHWAR; S S BHATT; V B ATHAVALE; B S KULKARNI
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
STATISTICS ARE PROVIDED AND ANALYZED FOR 130 CASES OF RAPE OF GIRLS IN INDIA UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.
Abstract
UNDER SECTION 375 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE, RAPE IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE OCCURRED WHEN SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IS PERFORMED WITH ANY GIRL UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE, WITH OR WITHOUT HER CONSENT, UNLESS SHE IS THE MAN'S WIFE. THIS STUDY EXAMINES 130 CASES OF SUCH RAPE OVER A PERIOD OF 15 MONTHS. SUBJECTS WERE RESIDENTS IN A HOME PROVIDED FOR VICTIMS WHO WERE AWAITING CONCLUSION OF THEIR CASES IN THE JUVENILE COURT WHOSE PARENTS WERE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THEM. SUBJECTS WOULD BE KEPT IN THE HOME UNTIL THEY REACHED 18. INFORMATION OBTAINED FOR EACH VICTIM INCLUDE AGE, RELIGION, EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEX, FAMILY HISTORY, SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND, MOTIVE BEHIND THE RAPE, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE RAPE. A TOTAL OF 77.68 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS WERE MORE THAN 4 YEARS OF AGE, AND 6.15 PERCENT WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 MONTHS AND 6 YEARS; TWO VICTIMS WERE 6 MONTHS OLD. THE MAJORITY OF THE VICTIMS LIVED IN THE SLUMS OF BOMBAY. A TOTAL OF 34.5 PERCENT OF THE GIRLS WERE ILLITERATE, AND 79.23 PERCENT HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEX. ALTHOUGH ALL THE CASES INVOLVED RAPE FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, 36.16 PERCENT WERE WILLING PARTICIPANTS IN THE ACT. OF THE ACCUSED, NEIGHBORS WERE RESPONSIBLE IN 51.53 PERCENT OF THE CASES, WITH THE REMAINING ACCUSED BEING EMPLOYERS, RELATIVES, OR FRIENDS. SOME OF THE GIRLS WISHED TO MARRY THE ACCUSED, USUALLY AGAINST THE DESIRES OF THEIR PARENTS. (RCB)

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