Human Rights Violations: Child Prostitution in India

In India, it is a fact that young girls, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds, are at a higher risk of being sexually exploited than boys. Several surveys conducted way back in 1987, reported that 20 percent of women prostitutes are actually minors. 

The estimated numbers of child prostitutes in various cities were given as follows:

• Mumbai - 100, 000
• Kolkata - 100,000
• Delhi - 40,000
• Agra - 40,000

Remember, we are talking about the ‘official’ figures here. Imagine what the real figures could be like.

Human Rights Violations: Causes of Child Prostitution

Typically, commercialized human trafficking and human rights violations happen when there is poverty in the society. Here are some important factors that augment the issue of child prostitution despite stringent Indian laws:

• Devdasi system: The religious practice of dedicating young daughters to the ‘temple gods’ continues. They are actually sold off to powerful owners of sex rackets.
• Poverty: Increased unemployment and poverty has led to child prostitution.
• Influx of Affluent: With the entry of affluent youths in metro cities, the demand for child prostitutes has increased drastically.
• Child Marriages: In villages, this is a common practice but the innocent child brides are later sold off to brothels by their reckless young husbands who want to make quick money easily.

Human Rights Violations: Legal Aspect of Child Prostitution

To curb the practice of child prostitution and human rights violations, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act mandates that an offender shall be punished with 7 years of jail term to life imprisonment. The Act defines three different categories, such as:

• Children: Children are those up to 16 years.
• Minors: Minors are those between the age of 16 to 18 years.
• Majors: Majors are those who are above 18 years.

The Act also provides for appointment of a special police officer. Further, rescued female victims shall be interrogated by only women police officers.