2 of 3 mental health experts in Mumbai lack skills to counsel sexually abused children- Study Two out of every three mental health professionals in Mumbai — a city ranks second in number of crimes against children (3,400 cases) in India — feel they lack skills to tackle child sexual abuse (CSA) cases. Experts said this is owing to lack of training related to trauma-focused counselling. The finding was drawn from a study conducted by The Foundation, a non-government organisation, run by former rugby captain of India and Bollywood actor Rahul Bose. The study is supported by UNICEF. It reveals that 61 Mental Health Professionals (MHPs), who were part of the survey, shed light on achievements and struggles of both the survivor and the response systems of child sexual abuse cases. Nearly 77% — three in four — experts said it was emotionally overwhelming to handle these cases. More ... 6, including 5 minors, held for raping eight-year-old girl in Pune A teenage boy was arrested and five juveniles were detained for allegedly raping an eight-year-old girl over the past few months in Pune’s Kondhwa locality, police said on Friday. The incident came to the light on Thursday when the victim was taken to a doctor after she complained of stomachache. The doctor found some marks on the girl’s body during a medical examination and suspected it to be a case of sexual abuse, the official said. More ... CID to probe human trafficking case of Asiya Begum trapped in Saudi since January Hyderabad: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) will probe the alleged human trafficking of Asiya Begum from Hussaini Alam in Old City to Saudi Arabia. The general administration (NRI) department has written to the additional director general of police, CID, nodal officer for NRI affairs, to investigate the case and submit a report to the government. In a letter from the victims daughter Kulsoom Fatima, the government was provided the name, address and telephone number of the local agent who had sent Asiya Begum to Saudi Arabia. It was mentioned in the letter that one Syed Ismail, whose occupation has been mentioned as tourist guide, was the local agent and necessary action should be taken against him. More ... Conduct verification at G.B. Road brothels, Crime Branch told The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has directed the Crime Branch to visit brothels in central Delhi’s G.B. Road and conduct verification of all the residents.Stating that all children in brothels need to be taken care of, a letter by the CWC to the Delhi Police directed for details of their home and parents. The letter states that children are at risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV, unwanted pregnancies, loss of childhood and education, drug addiction, besides the risk of exploitation, abuse, trauma, bodily harm and death. More ... Mysuru police to hold street plays on preventing crime In a bid to prevent crimes against women and children, the city police along with the NGO Rural Literacy and Health Programme plan to stage street plays from Tuesday to Friday. This is being done as part of crime prevention month. In the wake of growing incidents of crime against women and child, the police have decided to create awareness among women about how they could be cautious and avert attacks. Similarly, the police want to educate people about the consequences of committing crimes against women and children. The street plays will also educate women and children how to go about registering police complaints and about the benefits provided by the government to rehabilitate those subjected to crimes such as sexual exploitation. More ... Girls confined in ashrams- DCW chief suspects human trafficking Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Monday visited two more centres run by Virender Dev Dixit at Karawal Nagar and Nangloi, and demanded a CBI probe into what she suspected was a human trafficking racket being run by him. Ms. Maliwal was accompanied by Ajay Verma, advocate appointed as amicus curae by the High Court, as they interacted with the inmates of Karawal Nagar centre and found six women allegedly living in confinement there. More ... Inter-state programme to fight child labour and trafficking AN INTER-STATE collaborative event between Maharashtra and Bihar to combat child labour and trafficking was held in the city on Wednesday. The collaboration, involving police officers, Child Welfare Committee members, officials from the Labour and Women and Child Development departments, NGOs and civil society members is aimed at increasing coordination between the two states for rescue and rehabilitation to stop child labour and trafficking. More ... | 
