Context:
A global meta-analysis published in The Lancet (1990–2023) led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, provides the first age-standardized estimates of child sexual abuse globally using consistent metrics.
Key Findings
- India:
- 30.8% of girls and 13% of boys experienced sexual abuse before the age of 18.
- This marks the highest prevalence for girls in South Asia.
- Global Average (2023):
- 18.9% of females and 14.8% of males worldwide have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
- Timing of Abuse:
- 70% of victims were first abused before they turned 18.
POCSO Act
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act came into effect on 14th November 2012. It was enacted in response to India’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992. The aim of the Act is to address sexual exploitation and abuse of children, which were either not specifically defined or inadequately penalized in existing laws.
Key Features of the POCSO Act
- Definition of a Child:
- The Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years.
- Punishments:
- The Act prescribes punishments based on the gravity of the offence. It was amended in 2019 to include stricter penalties, including the death penalty for committing sexual crimes on children, aiming to deter perpetrators.
- POCSO Rules, 2020:
- The Government of India notified the POCSO Rules, 2020, to provide a detailed framework for the implementation of the Act.
- Gender-Neutral Nature:
- The Act recognizes that both girls and boys can be victims of sexual abuse, ensuring that such abuse is penalized regardless of the victim’s gender.
- Explicit Definition of Terms:
- Storage of child pornography has been defined as a new offence under the Act.
