Protection of Children from Sexual Offences

POCSO

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, (POCSO Act) and its corresponding rules were enacted with the objective of protecting children from a slew of sexual offences and introducing child-friendly judicial mechanisms for dealing with such offences. All children have an equal right to access education in an environment that is safe, protective and conducive to the overall development. Sexual offences are a violation of human rights. They are condemnable, reprehensive and repugnant reducing human dignity and rights of individuals. Many a times, these are acts of perversion, mixed with feelings of hatred. These can also be a result of an intention to hurt and brutalize the victims and often consequences of unsolicited gratification of personal needs of the perpetrators. Child sexual abuse can result in both short term and long term harm, including psychopathology in later life. Physical and social effects, including depression, post traumatic stress disorder, poor self esteem, anxiety disorders, general psychological distress and disorder are instilled in them. Despite of the fact that not all victims of child abuse and neglect experience behavioral disorders, studies have found that at least 25 per cent of them are more likely to experience problems in future such as committing offences, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and mental health problems, etc.

To safeguard the interests of the learners MCS Mount Carmel School set up the POCSO committee ( set up under the provisions of prevention of children from sexual offence Act 2012) on 22 nd August 2020 . The committee works towards safeguarding the learners from the challenges they face in their formative years at school.

1. Periodic sensitization workshops for staff , committee members on signs to watch out for, boundaries for interactions with students in person / online/ on the phone , child protection norms , abuse prevention , provisions of the POCSO Act.
2. Periodic Age – appropriate sensitization on good touch and bad touch , personal safety, gender sensitization workshop.
3. Implement the proactive measures to prevent child sexual abuse.

Purpose of this Handbook

Education plays a vital role in transforming a society by making its children more aware, open minded and independent. Schools and other Institutions that provide education, have been playing a meaningful role in creating a nurturing environment for children where they can learn their core values and define their initial behaviours. On the flip side, however, they are also targeted as breeding grounds for sexual abuse and without the right preventive mechanisms, can be the unwitting accomplices to the perpetuation of Child Sexual Abuse. Educational institutions can also help in preventing the creation of future abusive behaviour in children by inculcating in them the right attitudes and ensuring they have access to the correct information, particularly around gender, health and myths that shroud abuse.

The Act also provides for conditions of medical examination of a child in respect of whom any offence has been committed. Similarly, the Act also provides specifically certain parameters of reporting and restraint for media. It is essential that the school management and staff understand their roles and responsibilities well, in reference to the basic provisions under the POCSO Act, 2012 in order to comply with its provisions. Therefore, there is a need to prepare a Handbook about the implementation of POCSO Act, 2012 for school management and staff who happen to come in contact with the child victim early and are required to discharge a responsible duty towards the child victim. This handbook informs the end user (Staff/Management) about sexual abuse in schools and their right to an informed complaint process in seeking redress as provided under the Act and Rules framed thereunder.