POCSO e-Button for Children to File Complaints of Sexual Abuse

An online complaint box for reporting child sexual abuse, the POCSO e-Box was launched by the Ministry for Women and Child Development on August 26, 2016.

POSCO Act, 2012

Being concerned about such offences against children, the Government enacted POCSO Act, 2012 to protect them from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography, while safeguarding the interest of the child at every stage of the judicial process, by incorporating child friendly mechanisms for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through designated Special Courts.Any human being up to the age of 18 years is recognised as a child under the POCSO Act.

Key Points

  • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), e-Box, is an online complaint management system for easy and direct reporting of sexual offences against children and timely action against the offenders under the POCSO Act, 2012.
  • The e-Box will make it possible toact against sexual offence against children on a large scale throughout the country.
  • A large number of incidents of abuse are against close relatives and so they get pushed under the carpet. E-Box is very simple to operate and will help to maintain the confidentiality of the complaint.
  • Sexual Offences against Children
  • Sexual offences against children are rampant but only a small percentage gets reported.
  • According to a study, about 53% of children surveyed, reported having faced one or the other form of sexual abuse in their lifetime.
  • In most cases, the offender is a family member/near relative or an acquaintance. The child victim in such cases generally does not report these offences.
  • Sexual abuse scars the psyche of the affected child for entire life.
  • A child who is sexually abused has to face very serious consequences such as cognitive impairment, violent and risk behaviour including depression and anxiety.
  • Feeling shame and guilt with poor interpersonal relationship &self esteem are other consequences of sexually abused children.

Related Content