When children disclose abuse, families in rural Andhra Pradesh, India, often respond with silence

There are widespread confusion about disclosure pathways and available support mechanisms

Originally published on Global Voices

Art depicting protection and care for children. Image via Wikimedia Commons by Sumita Roy Dutta. CC BY-SA 4.0.

India has enacted strong child protection laws over the past decade, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which criminalises sexual abuse of children and mandates child-friendly reporting and judicial procedures.