The bill on Protection of Children from sexual abuse

[Fr. Mathew Thomas]

Dear All,

The bill to protect children from sexual abuse is passed by the Lok Sabha. I’m sure you have all seen the news on this. I just wanted to share this with you all since a lot of us from the YaR Forum and many other Salesians in India contributed towards advocating for this bill. 

The YaR Forum team led by Fr. TD John had presented our views and suggestions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee in the month of November last year. Once again thanks to all of you who contributed to the YaR presentation. Our observations and suggestions were well received by the standing committee. Please find pasted below the news item regarding the passing of the bill that came in the News Paper.

You are welcome to read the text of the bill from the public domain as a way of educating ourselves to serve and  protect the children better.

With kind regards,

Fr. Mathew Thomas

Nod for Bill to protect children from sexual abuse

The Hindu News Paper, 23^rd May, 2012

AARTI DHAR

It provides for stringent punishment for offenders and setting up of special courts

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2011. The Bill, already passed by the Rajya Sabha, will protect children below 18 from sexual abuse, and seeks to set up special courts for speedy trial of cases against them and provide stringent punishment extending up to life term for offenders.

“The Bill is gender-neutral. It seeks to protect children from sexual offences and the burden of proof will be on the accused,” Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said.

Ms. Tirath said all those below 18 years would be treated as child and efforts had been made to keep provisions of the Bill child-friendly. It contained provisions for in-camera trial of offences.

Piloting the Bill, Ms. Tirath said the legislation had been necessitated due to the fact that incidents of child abuse had increased immensely, particularly in the National Capital Region. According to a study conducted by her Ministry in 13 States, 53 per cent of children accepted that they had been sexually exploited.

The Minister said the Bill had provision for the State governments to set up special courts to try the offences. It had provision for stringent punishment for perpetrators of crime extending up to life term and heavy penalty — the quantum will be decided by the court.

“Whoever uses a child for pornographic purposes shall be liable for rigorous imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine and, in the event of second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years and also with fine.”

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YaR…Young  at  Risk
Fr. Mathew Thomas SDB
Secretary & Executive Director
YaR Forum India
Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk (YaR)
Palam Gaon, New Delhi-110045
Ph. (011) 25081014 (M) 09868385387

...that they may have life...life in all its fullness..