ABSTRACT

Girls in India continue to be sexually abused/exploited under the veil of traditional practices such as Devadasi dedication despite the existence of legislation meant to protect them from child sexual abuse. This study recounts the experiences of 30 Devadasi girls who were dedicated, initiated into sexual activity, and involved in commercial sexual activity as children. It underscores the need to address this practice as a criminal offense to be prosecuted under the legislation. Efforts must be made to explicitly connect Devadasi dedication and child sexual abuse in the minds of the public, law enforcement agencies and government officials.

摘要

尽管存在旨在保护她们免受儿童性虐待之害的立法，但印度女孩继续在传统习俗的掩盖下遭受性虐待/剥削，例如Devadasi奉献精神。这项研究叙述了30名Devadasi女孩的经历，这些女孩是专心致志，开始从事性活动并从小就从事商业性活动的。它强调有必要将这种做法作为刑事犯罪加以处理，并根据立法予以起诉。必须努力在公众，执法机构和政府官员的心目中将达瓦达西的奉献精神和对儿童的性虐待明确联系起来。