Rising awareness on child rights

The case of rape of a six-year-old at a Marathahalli school in July has attracted widespread attention, triggering protests across the city. Ever since July this year, there have been 113 cases booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Bengaluru city alone.

This is nearly double compared to the first half of the year, when 62 POCSO cases were reported between January and June. The number of cases booked under POCSO Act was just 55 in 2013.

While increase in media reports has caused an alarm, child rights experts and the police say the sharp increase is also because of the rise in awareness and willingness among people to report cases.

‘Healthy trend’

Anupama Hegde, Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee (CWC), said it was indeed a healthy trend as people were more willing to report such cases. She said people are usually sceptical of booking complaints when the abuser is from within the family and a social stigma is attached to it.

Experts, meanwhile, point out that many cases continue to go unreported. A CWC member recalled how they had a tough time convincing the parents of a victim of sexual assault to file a police complaint, but in vain.

Stressing the role of the family in reporting cases of abuse, Kushi Kushalappa of Enfold said there has not been much change in the home environment.

“There is a need for parents to be more open so that children can discuss about such issues,” she said.

Judicial delays

For those who choose to file a complaint, judicial delays continue to dog even though POCSO Act prescribes, wherever possible, completion of trial within one year of the offence committed. A parent of a victim had told this reporter that months after filing a case, it was still nowhere near its logical end.

Sources in the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights said many complainants drop the cases or change their statements under pressure or to avoid legal hassles.

Loopholes in the Act

It has also been pointed out that the Act, despite being stringent, is not free from loopholes.

George P.S., a child rights activist who has facilitated 29 POCSO cases as part of BOSCO along with the police, said about 50 per cent of the cases booked under the Act were elopement. “There is a need for a wider debate on how to deal with elopement cases. The police should see if they have to merely follow the law or go in-depth and study the cases before booking them under POCSO, as it has severe clauses of penalty and punishment,” he said.