Question : POCSO Act

(a) whether the Government agencies have taken note of cases where child sexual abuse survivors have attempted to report such crimes long after the actual incidents, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there is any provision to allow such delay in reporting of child sexual abuse under the existing Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any request for amendment in the existing POCSO Act, 2012 to permit survivors of child sexual abuse to seek justice even after attaining the age of 18 years, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the other proposals under consideration of the Government to check child sexual abuse; and

(e) the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken thereon?

ANSWER

MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*259 for answer on 12.03.2021 raised by Adv. Dean Kuriakose regarding ‘POCSO Act’.

(a) to (e) The POCSO Act, 2012 was amended in 2019 in order to make it more effective in dealing with cases of child sex abuse.

As per Section 19 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the cases of child sexual abuse can be reported by the victim at any time and the law enforcement agencies are required to take necessary action on the complaint of such victim.

In furtherance of the POCSO (Amendment) Act, 2019, the Government has also notified the POCSO Rules, 2020.

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