Amrita Tripathi, New Delhi: The brutality of the gruesome Nithari murders is every parent's nightmare and a macabre reminder of the imminent threat of child abuse.

Compounding the problem is the fact that young victims of abuse usually tend to internalise a lot of guilt because of the associated shame, making it a social issue that needs sensitive handling.

"Sexually abused children are more precocious, there are sexualised behaviours in the way they talk, their mannerisms or the content of their talk, their curiosity might be much more. Also a feeling of shame and guilt might be hiding not only the fact that they are getting abused, but anything else that they think will make parent or teacher upset. Also they become very vigilant, often you see them scanning their surroundings, people around them," says child psychiatrist Amit Sen.

Younger children may start bed-wetting and facing huge conflicts on whom to confide in.

As a result, the child's grades may drop in school, she may lose the ability to trust and develop healthy relationships with adults.

According to a study done by NGO Sakshi Violence Intervention Centre in 1997, out of 350 school girls in the Capital, 63% of the girls had experienced child sexual abuse by a family member.

Another study done by NGO Rahi, out of 1,000 women across the country, 76 per cent had been sexually abused as children and 40% of these had been abused by a family member.

The same study found that 50% of the abuse took place when the children were under 12.

So what can the parents of a harassed child do?

The anger and the shame are understandable, but as a parent, it's also imperative to communicate with the child and make it clear that all adults are not to be trusted blindly.

From an early age, it becomes imperative to make the children understand the crucial difference between a "good touch" and "bad touch" and an assurance that they would not be reprimanded for reporting abuse.

"And also make very clear it could be anybody, cousins/uncles/ aunts/ absolutely right to think that, and come tell parent. Make clear that just because person is in a position of power doesn't make it alright, give them permission to think like that and seek help for it. Often children can't put these things tog," says Sen.

While the disturbing truths about paedophiles manipulating the children - luring them with sweets and toys – remain, the larger message is that they could be anywhere, even within ones’ trusted circle of trust.

Therefore, communication is the key to ensuring that a child is well-equipped to prevent himself and an abused child feels safe enough to report the abuse.