One Day Orientation on POCSO Act 2012

One Day Orientation on POCSO Act 2012

May 25, 2018

KMWSC conducts one day orientation programme on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 on 24^th May 2018 at its premises for all the project coordinators, office staffs, field staffs of all the projects and leading staffs of brick field school project. The orientation was facilitated by : Satya Gopal Dey – Head Child Protection and Advocacy – Vikramshila Education Resource Society. As KMWSC has been intervening in one of the major thematic areas of protection of women and children in rural and urban areas, felt the need of capacity building of entire team.  The orientation was really fruitful and worth for all the staff. It was new for many and revision for few.

The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age. It lists all forms of sexual assault, including touching and non touching behaviours/gestures.

POCSO Act addresses…..

Crimes of sexual abuse and

Sexual exploitation of children.

The Act prescribes…. Six sexual offences against children –

• penetrative sexual assault,
• aggravated penetrative sexual assault,
• sexual assault,
• aggravated sexual assault,
• sexual harassment,
• and using a child for pornographic purposes
• And prescribes the punishment for these offences.

It calls out that abetment of or an attempt to commit these offences is punishable under the Act.

Salient Features of the POCSO Act

• Child Friendly
• Child is given police protection during the Investigative Procedure
• Can avail Emergency Medical Treatment
• Provisions for avoiding re-victimisation of the child
• Special Court to decide compensation for the child
• Can testify through Video-link
• A CSA case should be disposed within one year of reporting

Whom to report?

• Under Section 19.1 of the POCSO Act, any person who has apprehension that an offence is likely to be committed or has knowledge that an offence has been committed, should bring the incident to the notice of the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) or the local police.
• If one calls Childline on 1098, they will connect the concerned to the police and Child Welfare Committee.

What is the role of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) under the POCSO Act?

• If the police/SJPU report indicates that a child is in need of care and protection, the CWC should decide whether the child needs to be removed from the custody of his family and placed in a children’s home/shelter, within three days.
• The family and custodian of the child must be informed that such a process in underway. The CWC must also consider the preference of the child and the need for the child to remain with family (in case of age, disability etc).

Who is the support person?

The CWC provides support to the child during the course of the investigative and trial.

The support person can be an individual or organization working in the field of child rights, or an official from the shelter where the child is placed or an individual employed by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).

Indeed it was worth attending the one day orientation programme organized by KMWSC. The staffs were keen to learn from the resource person. By facilitating this training KMWSC has created a platform for team spirit, learning together, sharing ideas, sharing knowledge in team.