Current Issues – 1 | MTP Act 2021 – Child Sexual Abuses – POCSO Act

1. Explain About Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 2021 ?

Context : The Supreme Court recently held that women, regardless of their marital status, are entitled to safe and legal abortion until 24 weeks of pregnancy.

About the Act :

– Initially the act was enacted in 1971 as The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (“MTP Act”).

– The objective is to have safe abortions and empower women by providing comprehensive abortion care to all.

– The act Increases the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women, including survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (differently abled women, minors, among others).

– Under the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case of failure of contraceptive method or device.

– Opinion of one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation

– The act also allows unmarried women to also terminate a pregnancy in the case of failure of contraceptive method or device.

2. Child sexual abuse in India ? 

Context : The CBI launched the Operation Megh Chakra to combat the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Materials online.

Reason of increasing child sex abuse in India ?

1. Majority of child abuse goes unreported

2. Involvement of family members

3. Lack of training to teacher to teach about child abuse to students

4. Lack of awareness programmes

5. Illiteracy

6. Low conviction rates

7. Lack of child-friendly procedures and facilities in court as well as police stations

Etc…You can write as many as …..

Preventive Measures for Child Sexual Abuse :

1. Parents should create a trustworthy environment for children in home

2. The child should be assured not to feel guilty by their parents.

3. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 can be instructed on “good” touch, “acceptable touch,” and “poor touch.”

4. School education must be reformed to provide enough education about sexual abuse and related things

5. Teachers in India’s schools use innovative methods to teach students about adolescent health, including puberty, as part of the “Health and Wellness Curriculum.”

6. As it is a public health issues, public health intervention for children is necessary.

7. Child pornography in internet should be banned and punishment must be severe.

3. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 

Objective :

– Protection of children from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography.

– The act deals with sexual offences against persons below 18 years of age, who are deemed as children.

– The POCSO Act establishes a gender-neutral legislation in India .

Features :

– Different forms of sexual abuses is included in this act like penetrative & non-penetrative assault etc.

– The Act assigns a policeman in the role of child protector during the investigation process.

– The Act provides for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of such cases

– The act enables child-friendly mechanisms for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation in the courts .

– Appointment of Special Public Prosecutors for speedy trial of such cases

– The Act provides for stringent punishments which have been graded as per the gravity of offence.

-This act further empowers the NCPCR and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights for monitoring the implementation of the provisions of this Act .

– Government need to take Steps to create awareness about the provisions of the POCSO Act;

– District Child Protection Unit (DCPU – The DCPU shall coordinate and implement all child rights and protection activities at district level

 

 

 

 

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