Effective Measures to Prevent Sexual Offences against Children: Need for a Multi-Pronged Approach

Abstract

Recently, the CBI raided 76 places in 14 States of India. These raids were in connection with Red child pornography & child trafficking. This was one of the biggest child trafficking cases that was exposed. This is very serious and sensitive regarding India as a nation where youth is the biggest generation. According to the National Crime Register, 24% of all children are sexually abused. Half of these abuses are perpetrated by adults who believe in children. Article 15 (3) of the Indian Constitution empowers the State Government to make special provisions for children. The Government of India has also ratified the terms of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of the Child dated 11 December 1992. To protect children from abuse, to maintain a healthy childhood, to protect the rights of children, and to protect children from childhood and adolescent sexual exploitation was the only specific piece of child abuse legislation before the 2012 Act. To effectively address the heinous crimes of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children through less ambiguous and more stringent legal provisions, the Ministry of Women and Child Development championed the introduction of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The law was passed. The rules made under this Act were also notified in November 2012, and this Act was ready for implementation. The law provides for the protection of children (girls/boys) from sexual offenses as well as severe punishment of the offender. The special law was enacted to protect children from sexual harassment, molestation, obscenity, crime, abuse, and rape.