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In 2020, there were close to *** thousand boys who were victims of human trafficking in India. Meanwhile, the number of girl victims of human trafficking across the country was smaller, with *** during the same time period.

Sexual exploitation of minors in India

India, with its complex hierarchical social system, is known to be predominantly patriarchal. It is therefore not uncommon, that existing gender norms favor and empower male members of society rather than it’s female ones. Studies indicate that girls from lower castes and those belonging to the lower end of the socio-economic strata are most vulnerable to sexual exploitation. This is largely a consequence of child, early, and forced marriage. In a patriarchal society, the perceived gender norm for males is typically the expectation of “being strong”, which may often discourage young male victims of sexual abuse from seeking help. This is also known to fuel stigmatization which could further exacerbate instances of sexual violence going unreported.

Education for children in India

For a developing country like India, primary education is a crucial first step toward alleviating poverty, reducing crime and violence against children, and improving the lives of many in the present and future. Studies reflect a positive correlation between the level of education of a person and their standard of living. Despite significant strides having been made in this sector with government initiatives such as Sarva Shikshan Abhiyan or universal elementary education, less than ** percent of all school-eligible children do not have access to elementary education.