Child Sexual Abuse is a rampant problem, creating social havoc for the children, adult survivors, and society at large. Studies indicate that world-wide, one out of every three girls and one out of every six boys are abused. According to a recent survey, over 53% of children in India are victims of sexual abuse. Not enough has been done to prevent this menace in a country where the population of children exceeds 400 million.

In India, the root of the problem lies at the lack of knowledge and acceptance about the problem of Child Sexual Abuse. Thus, the first step to uproot this problem is to understand what Child Sexual Abuse is and to acknowledge its presence in our society.

2007 Survey by Indian Ministry of Women and Child development:

• 53% of children in India face one or more forms of sexual abuse


• 50% of the offenders are usually known to the victims (family, friends or people in positions of trust)


• Boys are equally at risk as girls

Climb Everest With Me is working with 'We are Children', a campaign to urge people to take preventive action on Child Sexual Abuse. The campaign strives to create a network of individuals and corporates to understand the need to support organisations that address Child Sexual Abuse. More info at www.wearechildren.org. As part of raising awareness and assisting the campaign, Climb Everest With Me has launched www.millionpledges.com, an initiative to get a million pledges to break the silence against Child Sexual Abuse. .
Please visit the website of the organizations supported to better understand the problem of Child Sexual Abuse in India as well as the work they do. Climb Everest With Me will be donating part of the funds raised towards organisation/s addressing Child Sexual Abuse in India. You are also welcome to make donations directly to these organizations.

Arpan – Towards Freedon from Child Sexual Abuse, Mumbai, founded in 2008 started as an informal group of volunteers who give their time to various social causes. Arpan then developed a team of trained professionals, to work on the issue of child sexual abuse. They provide education and awareness in schools on protection and prevention from child sexual abuse to children, parents and teachers. They also offer support services to survivors of child sexual abuse. www.arpan.org.in

Enfold Proactive Health Trust, Bangalore, was founded in 2001 and provides education and awareness in schools on protection and prevention from child sexual abuse to children, parents and teachers. They also train other professionals in handling cases of child sexual abuse. Enfold counsels children who have been sexually abused. www.enfoldindia.org

FACSE – Forum Against Child Sexual Exploitation, Mumbai, formed in 1995, comprises of a group of voluntary organisations, professionals and other concerned individuals, working to spread awareness and disseminating information on child sexual abuse. Members take up individual cases of child sex abuse and focus its combined resources on public awareness and advocacy.www.facse.com

RAHI – Recovering and Healing from Incest: A Support Centre for Women Survivors, Delhi, established in 1996, specialises in working with adult women survivors of incest and childhood sexual abuse and offers services that are uniquely important to their healing. The centre provides individual and group services for survivors, aimed at helping them deal better with abuse in the past and bring them to empower themselves.  www.rahifoundation.org

Tulir – Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, Chennai, started in 2004 implements direct prevention initiatives with children including online safety programmes. Tulir also actively advocates for a better criminal justice system, provides training to various professionals and conducts research for policy change. An integral component of their work has been assisting and supporting child survivors of sexual abuse through psycho-social and legal services.  www.tulir.org

• Silent victims
• Children at risk
• Three youngsters from the city were awarded for creating awareness about child sex abuse
• Every child needs to learn personal safety
• Book review: “Bitter Chocolate – Child Sex Abuse in India”
• Child Abuse: need to bridge the gap between complaint and conviction
• Street children, street play and train of thought
• Evolve action plan to prevent child sex abuse
• The shadow of child sex abuse