Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness Day

Clergy Sexual Abuse is a  common issue across the world, in the faith community. The idea behind observing this day is to discourage sexual abuse and underscore the negative impact of the act on the lives of all the victims. 

Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness Day is observed on 1 August of every year to extend support to all the victims of clergy sexual assault, so that they can come out and speak about any wrongdoing.

As UPSC surprises aspirants with questions linked with what usually is assumed to be trivia; it is advisable that one must scroll through the facts about Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness Day to get the basic information. This topic can be asked in the UPSC Prelims as part of the current affairs.  

Facts About Clergy Sexual Assault Awareness Day for UPSC Exam

Read the below-mentioned facts about Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness Day; and aid your IAS Exam preparation along with other competitive exams’ preparation. 

The topic can be asked as a Current Affairs Question in IAS Prelims. Visit the attached link to attempt practice quizzes on current affairs.

To read more about the other Important International and National days click on the link. Such days and events become very important for UPSC Prelims. 

About Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness Day

• Clergy sexual abuse is a common problem in every faith around the whole world. 1 August is Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness & Prevention Day, while the events are scheduled throughout the month of August.
• It’s a campaign to educate and make people aware of such practices by the “elite members” of society.
• The first campaign was launched in 2011.
• The entire month of August is dedicated to promote awareness and educate the clergy, members of the church, and the general public.
• Clergy misconduct is also linked to abuse of children which is a very serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Why is Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness Day needed?

• Spirituality in the whole world is an important part of life for many people and families. Religious institutions like churches and temples while fulfilling the spiritual and religious needs of people also provide personal advice and assistance to the community.These factors together not just let the predatory spiritual leader to abuse congregants easily, but also is able to convince the victims to not report their actions, with the claim that others will not believe them.
• Such members of clergy hide behind the influence and reputation of a holy individual in the community, discouraging the victims to come out and speak against the sexual assault.

Read about the Prevention Of Children from Sexual Offences Act in the linked article.

What Enables Clergy Sexual Abuse?

• Members of clergy misuse the personal information shared by the people to seek advice from their spiritual leaders. Thus, mixing of social roles between the clergy and members of the community is one reason.
• Since no one is responsible for monitoring the activities of the clergy, people who question their behaviour don’t not know where to report.
• Warning signals are usually discarded by family members, and friends as misjudgments.
• The culture of niceness which penetrates society, especially religious groups, has inhibited the testimony of wrong behaviour.
• Many churches and religious groups hide sexual offenders to keep the faith of people in them and to maintain their religious and spiritual dominance.

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