To curb child pornography is the first priority
The Internet has speeded up the pace of development of the world without a doubt. But it is also equally spreading up the disadvantages associated with in the form of cybercrime. One of the most heart pricking cybercrimes is child pornography. Interpol’s shocking revelations are showing clearly that how this crime has an international character by exposing sex rackets based on child pornography and increasing sexual abuse on children. Germany is found to have the highest number of such cases.
The exposure of seven Indian nationals participating in international child pornography by the German police and a recent arrest of five administrators of a WhatsApp group with 119 members belonging to 40 countries by the CBI in New Delhi has alarmed the need to take immediate action in eradicating it. The internet being the major player in such sex rackets it becomes important to make stringent laws in the Information and Technology Act.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act – POCSO 2012 is a historic legal framework which gives overall protection to the children from domestic as well as outside sexual abuses. It lists out various categories of offenses like
1.Penetrative sexual assault
2.Aggravated sexual assault
3.Sexual assault
4.Sexual Harassment
5.Child pornography
The act defines child pornography as any conduct be it verbal or digital that is sexually explicit depicting a child or an adult in the form of a child is considered a serious crime. The person who is found to possess or spread such content is liable to face imprisonment of three years. If a person involves in the commercial use of the content has to face imprisonment of three years for the first time, five years for the second time and seven years if repeated with fines. In the 2019 historic amendment death penalty has been approved by the government for child sexual abuse thus making it more powerful.
The serious consequence of child pornography is reflected in increasing child sex abuse in recent times. Children are so delicate that they even can not understand what actually is happening to them and the psychological trauma they undergo is much worse than the physical pain they face. They do not even raise their voice against such offenses because of a lack of understanding while few remain dumb out of fear. The condition of the mentally retarded children is worst to the core and they are the most manipulated ones.
Smriti Irani the Minister of Women and Child Development has recently declared in the parliament that around 377 porn websites depicting children are closed by the cybercrime department. The CBI has created a special unit for Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (OCSAE) Prevention and Investigation in New Delhi. The formation of a separate Ministry for Cybercrime is under the proposal which will be materialized soon. Apart from this, the campaign of “Good touch Bad touch” is being spread widely among the children. The parents are imparted with awareness through regular counseling in school meetings.
Even though many steps are being taken by the government to curb child sexual abuse it is the first and foremost responsibility of the parents to take care of their children because it is always advisable that prevention is better than cure. Government initiatives are more oriented towards investigating and punishing the offenders while parents are in a vital position to prevent the children from getting victimized. They need to spend time with their kids and impart knowledge and courage to understand and voice out such crimes. I would insist “Don’t touch” rather than “Good touch Bad touch” for better caution.
