Child sexual abuse laws in India

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Child sexual abuse laws in India have been enacted as part of the nation's child protection policies. The Parliament of India passed the 'Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill, 2011' regarding child sexual abuse on May 22, 2012 into Act.^[1][2] The rules formulated by the government in accordance with the law have also been notified on th November 2012 and the law has become ready for implementation.^[3] Fifty three percent of children in India face some form of child sexual abuse.^[4] The need for stringent law has been felt many times.^[5][6][7]

Law Before the 2012 legislation was passed

Goa Children's Act, 2003,^[8] was the only specific piece of child abuse legislation before the 2012 Act. Child sexual abuse was prosecuted under the following sections of Indian Penal Code:

• I.P.C. (1860) 375- Rape
• I.P.C. (1860) 354- Outraging the modesty of a woman
• I.P.C. (1860) 377- Unnatural offences

However, the IPC could not effectively protect the child due to various loopholes like:

• IPC 375 doesn't protect male victims or anyone from sexual acts of penetration other than "traditional" peno-vaginal intercourse.
• IPC 354 lacks a statutory definition of "modesty". It carries a weak penalty and is a compoundable offence. Further, it does not protect the "modesty" of a male child.
• In IPC 377, the term "unnatural offences" is not defined. It only applies to victims penetrated by their attacker's sex act, and is not designed to criminalize sexual abuse of children.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act

The new Act^[9] provides for a variety of offenses under which an accused can be punished. It recognizes forms of penetration other than peno-vaginal penetration^[10] and criminalizes acts of immodesty against children too. The act is gender-neutral. With respect to pornography, the Act criminalizes even watching or collection of pornographic content involving children.^[11] The Act makes abettment of child sexual abuse an offense.^[12] It also provides for various procedural reforms,^{[13][14][15][16]} making the tiring process of trial in India considerably easier for children. The Act has been criticized as its provisions seem to criminalize consensual sexual intercourse between two people below the age of 18. The 2001 version of the Bill did not punish consensual sexual activity if one or both partners were above 16 years.^[17]

See also

• Child sexual abuse
• Law of India
• Child Sexual Abuse in India
• Ministry of Women and Child Development

References

External links

• Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill, 2011