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Amendments to the POCSO Act
Why is it in the news?
- The government approved amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, to bring punishments for sexual assaults on boys on a par with those against girls.
- The amendments to the POCSO Act make way for the provision of death penalty even for those who sexually assault boys under 12.
- Till now, such crimes committed against boys carried a lighter punishment as compared to those against girls.
More in the news
- The Union Cabinet approved changes to Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which deals with punishments for aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
- The new change enhances the punishment of 10 years to life imprisonment and 20 years to imprisonment for remainder of a person’s natural life or with death.
- This category of offence includes assault on a child under the age of 12 years, gang rape, assault on a mentally or physically challenged child or one that is committed by a relative or a custodian of a child.
- According to National Crime Record Bureau data as many as 94.6% of total crimes under the POCSO Act as well as Section 376 are committed either by relatives or acquaintances.
- The government has also amended the definition of aggravated penetrative sexual assault to include an offence that causes the death of a child.
- The amendments approved by the Union Cabinet will now have to be passed by Parliament.
Key provisions of POCSO Act 2012
- The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years.
- The Act provides protection to all children under the age of 18 years from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography.
- The Act incorporates child friendly procedures for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and trial of offences
- The Act also provides for punishment for abetment of the offence, which is the same as for the commission of the offence.
- This would cover trafficking of children for sexual purposes.
- The media has been barred from disclosing the identity of the child without the permission of the Special Court.
Source
The Hindu.