Online support for rape victim

Can the power of words help the 12-year-old girl who was allegedly raped repeatedly over four years? Harish Iyer (30), who identifies with the girl being a victim of child sexual abuse himself, sure seems to think so.

Can the power of words help the 12-year-old girl who was allegedly raped repeatedly over four years? Harish Iyer (30), who identifies with the girl being a victim of child sexual abuse himself, sure seems to think so.

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Iyer and his friend, Payal Shah Karwah, have created an email ID where people can write in inspirational messages to the girl. The duo hopes to have the letters read to her with the help of NGOs.

“The messages will help the girl feel better and also inspire people to take a more proactive stand against child sexual abuse,” said Iyer. As the girl’s identity has not been revealed to protect her identity, Iyer and his friends have christened her, Paree (fairy).

Iyer is using the social networking platform to garner support for Paree.

But Chandni Parekh, a sex and sexuality counsellor, said this initiative might not be the best thing for the girl just yet. “We don’t know how the girl is feeling,” said Parekh. “A more meaningful way of helping anyone who has been abused is by looking at the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to the violence.”

— Afsha Khan

(If you wish to drop in a line to Paree, send an email to writetoparee@gmail.com)