New Era of Child Protection: POCSO Amendment Act 2019
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The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani on July 18, 2019. The Bill amends the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The Act seeks to protect children from offences such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography.
Vital Provisions of the Rules
- Mandatory police verification of staff in any institution housing children or coming in regular contact with children like schools, care homes, sports academies etc.
- State Governments to formulate a child protection policy based on the principle of zero-tolerance to violence against children, which shall be adopted by all institutions, organizations, or any other agency working with, or coming in contact with children.
- Central Government and State Governments shall
- Provide periodic training (like sensitization workshops etc.) to all persons, coming in contact with the children, to sensitize them about child safety and protection.
- Prepare age-appropriate educational material and curriculum for children, informing them about personal safety, emotional and mental wellbeing, reporting mechanisms including Childline helpline services (toll free number-1098) etc.
- Orientation programme and intensive courses for police personnel and forensic experts for building their capacities in their respective roles on a regular basis.
- Any person who has received any pornographic material involving a child or any information regarding such pornographic material shall report the contents.
POCSO Amendment Act 2019
POCSO Act was brought in 2012 to address the heinous crimes of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children through less ambiguous and more stringent legal provisions.
Following amendments were made in 2019.
- Increases the minimum punishment (including death penalty) for penetrative sexual assault, aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
- Adds assault resulting in death of child, and assault committed during a natural calamity or in any similar situations of violence into Aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
- Pornographic purposes: Defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child including photograph, video, digital or computer-generated image indistinguishable from an actual child.
- Storage of pornographic material: Includes two other offences
- Failing to destroy, or delete, or report pornographic material involving a child.
- Transmitting, displaying and distributing such material except for the purpose of reporting it.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani on July 18, 2019. The Bill amends the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The Act seeks to protect children from offences such as sexual assault,…
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani on July 18, 2019. The Bill amends the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The Act seeks to protect children from offences such as sexual assault,…