Pre-offence’ Net abuse of child a crime
Aloke Tikku and Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, September 17, 2007
Soon the Net will become safer for your child. The Government has accepted a parliamentary panel’s suggestion that pre-offence “grooming” over the Net should be made a criminal offence.
Several countries, including the UK, US and Australia, have already criminalised online “grooming” — a term to describe Internet predators communicating with children online to gain their trust, breaking down their defences and then manipulating them into real-life sexual encounters.
The Department of Information Technology has also promised to consider making the sharing of information about websites for downloading pornography a criminal offence. A common strategy to lead children to believe that it was all right to expose themselves was to show them movies and images of other children indulging in sexual acts.
There are no studies to indicate the kind of risk that Indian children face in the borderless cyberspace.
"That does not imply the problem does not exist," siad Vidya Reddy, executive director of the Chennai - headquartered TULIR Centre for the Prevention and Healing Child Sexual Abuse.
Indians have had a very understated view of the extent of child abuse in India. "The problems are real ... you obviously do not see the problem if you close your eyes," she said. That is why the first national survey on child abuse this year served as a wake-up call. Nearly half of the over 12,000 children surveyed across 13 states acknowledged they had been sexually abused.
September 17, 2007
September 13, 2007
Hindustan Times dt.12th Sept
Govt steps in to save schoolkids / Norms set to curb sex abuse of children
Chetan Chauhan
Parents need to keep an eye on sudden behavioural changes in their children, schools should get the antecedents of staff verified and keep the corridors well-lit, and both parents and schools should work to prevent sexual abuse of schoolchildren. These are part of a set of guidelines the government is planning to send to schools across the country to ensure that children are safe outside home.
About 49 per cent students in India have been sexually abused in school, according to a recent government study on Child Abuse.
The guidelines were drafted after HT reported on July 25 the case of a student who was sexually abused by employees of his Kingsway Camp school. An inquiry panel of the Women and Child Development Ministry, which looked into the case, found faults with the school, and recommended suspension of its licence.
The panel, headed by Lovleen Kacker, also drafted the guidelines. They include setting up of a committee, comprising teachers and parents, in each school to look into complaints by students. The panel also wants that schools should have qualified counselors to guide parents and children through situation of distress, including sexual abuse. Medical facility in schools has been prescribed as a mandatory condition in the guidelines.
The ministry has also made a strong case for a classroom environment where students can share personal matters with teachers. The students should also be taught safety rules for their protection. The guidelines suggest ways to check sexual abuse in schoolbus, hallways, hideaways and restrooms places identified in the child abuse study where the child is likely to be harmed.
Govt steps in to save schoolkids / Norms set to curb sex abuse of children
Chetan Chauhan
Parents need to keep an eye on sudden behavioural changes in their children, schools should get the antecedents of staff verified and keep the corridors well-lit, and both parents and schools should work to prevent sexual abuse of schoolchildren. These are part of a set of guidelines the government is planning to send to schools across the country to ensure that children are safe outside home.
About 49 per cent students in India have been sexually abused in school, according to a recent government study on Child Abuse.
The guidelines were drafted after HT reported on July 25 the case of a student who was sexually abused by employees of his Kingsway Camp school. An inquiry panel of the Women and Child Development Ministry, which looked into the case, found faults with the school, and recommended suspension of its licence.
The panel, headed by Lovleen Kacker, also drafted the guidelines. They include setting up of a committee, comprising teachers and parents, in each school to look into complaints by students. The panel also wants that schools should have qualified counselors to guide parents and children through situation of distress, including sexual abuse. Medical facility in schools has been prescribed as a mandatory condition in the guidelines.
The ministry has also made a strong case for a classroom environment where students can share personal matters with teachers. The students should also be taught safety rules for their protection. The guidelines suggest ways to check sexual abuse in schoolbus, hallways, hideaways and restrooms places identified in the child abuse study where the child is likely to be harmed.
DNA dt.13th Sept
Renuka targets Modi on child trafficking
Vineeta Pandey Thursday, September 13, 2007 05:55 IST
NEW DELHI: Dealing a blow to Narendra Modi's "Shining Gujarat" image, minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Renuka Choudhury has sought investigation on child trafficking and sexual abuse in the state.
In a letter to the Gujarat chief minister on Wednesday, Choudhury said a large number of young tribal children are being trafficked from Rajasthan to Bt Cotton firms in north Gujarat.
"The children, mostly girls, are reportedly forced to slog for more than ten hours a day in hostile conditions. It is also apprehended that a large number of them are subjected to sexual abuse," the minister said.
Gujarat will go for assembly polls in November-December this year and sources in National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said they would not let the issue get diluted in the poll frenzy.
Sources said the commission will also raise the issue with the state government and is likely to make surprise visits to Gujarat to expose the truth.
A study conducted by Shakti Vahini, an NGO, in 2006 revealed 378 of the 593 districts in India are affected by human trafficking. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and TN are the states from where the maximum numbers of people are trafficked to other states.
Intra state/inter district trafficking has been found to be high in Rajasthan, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
A National Human Rights Commission report said about 44,000 children in India go missing every year. There are more than four lakh child prostitutes in India with addition of one-lakh children every year.
Meanwhile, the WCD ministry is developing Gender Budgeting Manuals to ensure committed funds for women related schemes in all sectors. The manuals will help in institutionalising the concept of gender budgeting at all levels of governance.
The WCD ministry is working hard to eliminate all forms of discrimination.
Renuka targets Modi on child trafficking
Vineeta Pandey Thursday, September 13, 2007 05:55 IST
NEW DELHI: Dealing a blow to Narendra Modi's "Shining Gujarat" image, minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Renuka Choudhury has sought investigation on child trafficking and sexual abuse in the state.
In a letter to the Gujarat chief minister on Wednesday, Choudhury said a large number of young tribal children are being trafficked from Rajasthan to Bt Cotton firms in north Gujarat.
"The children, mostly girls, are reportedly forced to slog for more than ten hours a day in hostile conditions. It is also apprehended that a large number of them are subjected to sexual abuse," the minister said.
Gujarat will go for assembly polls in November-December this year and sources in National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said they would not let the issue get diluted in the poll frenzy.
Sources said the commission will also raise the issue with the state government and is likely to make surprise visits to Gujarat to expose the truth.
A study conducted by Shakti Vahini, an NGO, in 2006 revealed 378 of the 593 districts in India are affected by human trafficking. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and TN are the states from where the maximum numbers of people are trafficked to other states.
Intra state/inter district trafficking has been found to be high in Rajasthan, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
A National Human Rights Commission report said about 44,000 children in India go missing every year. There are more than four lakh child prostitutes in India with addition of one-lakh children every year.
Meanwhile, the WCD ministry is developing Gender Budgeting Manuals to ensure committed funds for women related schemes in all sectors. The manuals will help in institutionalising the concept of gender budgeting at all levels of governance.
The WCD ministry is working hard to eliminate all forms of discrimination.
September 12, 2007
Hindustan Times Metro dt.12th Sept
12 year old arrested for molesting toddler in Dombivli
Kiran Sonawane
A 12 year old boy was arrested and released on a personal bond after the family of a 3 year old girl lodged a complaint of molestation against him. The incident took place in Nandivli village in Dombivli.
The girl, who had been sent to buy some groceries, had taken unusually long to return. When she did return, she had the items asked for as well as the money she had been given. The child's grandmother casually asked about the reason for her delay and was livid at what the little girl narrated. Datta Pandhare, police inspector of Manpada police station, Dombivili, said the girl told her grandmother that "Dada" (the 12 year old boy) who was alone at the shop, asked her to step inside the shop, took off her undergarments and fondled her private parts. He later gave her the ingredients, returned the money to her and offered her sweets, the girl told her family.
When her family confronted the boy, they had an altercation with his family, after which the girl's grandmother lodged a police complaint against the boy.
The police summoned the boy and released him on a personal bond of Rs.5000, said Pandhare.
Psychologist Adwait Padhya attributed such cases to the increasing exposure to sexual content on television and in other media.
"Twelve is the threshold of adolescence. At this age, curiosity about sex is at its peak. Children indulge in such acts due to exposure to sexual content," he said
Times of India dt 12th Sept
US rapist agrees to castration punishment
Panama city (Florida) : a confessed rapist in Flrida has agreed to be castrated in a plea deal that would reduce his prison sentence from a possible life sentence. The judge agreed to sentence Bobyy James Allen to 25 years' in prison if he undergoes the procedure in the next eight days.
Mumbai Mirror dt.12th Sept
Tribal girls sexually abused at Chhattisgarh school
Raipur: Three people have been arrested for stripping 5 minor girls and sexually abusing them at a state run hostel-cum-school in Chhattisgarh's jashpur district, police said on Tuesday.
The incident took place on Sundy night when a clerk, guard and the hostel superintnedent's brother stormed into the school's hostel at Buldega under Kotba police station in Jashpur, some 480 km from here.
"On Sunday night, the lady hostel superintendent, Mandra Narang, deputed her brother Pannalal Saxena in her absence. He, along with a guard Purushotam Chauhan and clerk Butturam, took 5 girls, aged 8-10 years into a room, stripped them and sexually abused them." Akbar Ram Korram, district superintendent of police, said.
Parents and other villagers caught Saxena and beat him up. Police then arrested the three accused. The hostel superintendent is absconding.
September 10, 2007
DNA
Sept 10th, 2007
16 year old girl raped in Dombivili
Divyesh Singh
Sept 10th, 2007
16 year old girl raped in Dombivili
Divyesh Singh
A minor from the Trimurthi Nagar area inDombivili was allegedly raped by a 22 year old electrician, Sudir Jaiswal, after she refused to get into a relationship with him.
On Thursday night, Jaiswal threatened to kill the girl if she did not come along with him. Jaiswal booked a room in a lodge at Shilphata Road where he allegedly raped the girl several times. The minor after returning home the following morning informed her family about the incident. The family reported the matter at the Ram Nagar police station in Dombivili on Friday.
Following the complaint, police nabbed Jaiswal from Trimurti Nagar on Friday evening.
September 8, 2007
Helping the World's Sexually Abused Children
Tuesday, August 28, 2007; A12
In his Aug. 24 op-ed, "No More Pedophile Tourists," Michael Gerson brought much-needed attention to the issue of child trafficking and prostitution, but this is only the tip of the iceberg that is global child sexual abuse.
According to the United Nations, more than 200 million children worldwide have suffered sexual abuse. The vast majority of these crimes occur not through prostitution but at the hands of someone the child knows, perhaps at home, in the community or at school.
Even more tragic, this estimate is probably too low: Untold numbers of children do not feel safe reporting such abuse or have their reports fall on deaf ears. Perpetrators often go unpunished, leaving children vulnerable to further violence, despair, disease and even substance abuse.
Since, as Mr. Gerson noted, many governments are ashamed to admit the problems occurring within their borders, these children have scant access to legal recourse, medical attention, counseling or other support.
On Sept. 24, the world will take an important step forward on this issue when the First International Conference on Child Sexual Abuse in Africa is convened in Nairobi. But this is only one step. We need to continue raising awareness and demand that governments worldwide do their part. We need to make sure these children no longer suffer in silence and know that someone is out there fighting for them.
JENNIFER DELANEY
Executive Director
Global Action for Children
Washington
Jennifer Delaney
Executive Director
Global Action for Children
GMANews.TV
Church-based group marks Sept 28 as antichild porn day
09/07/2007 10:17 PM
To drum up awareness against child pornography, a Church-based group has declared Sept. 28 as a National Day of Awareness and Unity against Child Pornography.
The Anti-Child Pornography Alliance (ACPA) will launch a “Batingaw (bells)" campaign against child pornography in Metro Manila and the provinces.“Simultaneous actions and activities will be staged in Baguio, Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Metro Cebu, Aklan will be held during that day to call for the total eradication of child pornography," it said in a statement posted on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website (www.cbcpnews.com) Friday night.Caloocan bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr., head of the CBCP’s information unit, called for a heightened state of vigilance against “an evil plague that is ravaging society."
“We must help in the campaign to educate youth and prevent violence against children as well as child pornography," Iñiguez told students during the launching of the “Batingaw" campaign against child pornography.Leading the crusade are concerned youth and student leaders, campus journalists from various schools and communities and faith-based organizations.Aside from ACPA, the movement’s backers include the along with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the De La Salle College of St. Benilde.
“Today, as the howling of the victimized children of pornography and various forms of abuses in the country and even on neighboring nations mount, we will not be heedless and neglectful," said Lean Peace Flores from the ACPA-Children and Youth Secretariat.“Like with the striking and sound of the ‘batingaws,’ we will act on these realities and will even pave the way for the immediate resolution of the crisis," she said added.Flores said the concept of “Batingaw" was derived from old times, where bells were used to send messages both of good tidings and forthcoming dangers that moved people to action.ACPA underscored that the children and youth participation in the battle against pornography is a vital component for their advocacy to work effectively.
It stated that youth involvement in pressing their concerns today foresees the imminent passing of a bill by the country’s legislators to set “strong and definite" policies on child-pornography and related concerns.“We urge our lawmakers and the executive branch of our government to prioritize the drafting and passing of a law that will prosecute the masterminds and practitioners of child pornography," said Flores. -
Church-based group marks Sept 28 as antichild porn day
09/07/2007 10:17 PM
To drum up awareness against child pornography, a Church-based group has declared Sept. 28 as a National Day of Awareness and Unity against Child Pornography.
The Anti-Child Pornography Alliance (ACPA) will launch a “Batingaw (bells)" campaign against child pornography in Metro Manila and the provinces.“Simultaneous actions and activities will be staged in Baguio, Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Metro Cebu, Aklan will be held during that day to call for the total eradication of child pornography," it said in a statement posted on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website (www.cbcpnews.com) Friday night.Caloocan bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr., head of the CBCP’s information unit, called for a heightened state of vigilance against “an evil plague that is ravaging society."
“We must help in the campaign to educate youth and prevent violence against children as well as child pornography," Iñiguez told students during the launching of the “Batingaw" campaign against child pornography.Leading the crusade are concerned youth and student leaders, campus journalists from various schools and communities and faith-based organizations.Aside from ACPA, the movement’s backers include the along with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the De La Salle College of St. Benilde.
“Today, as the howling of the victimized children of pornography and various forms of abuses in the country and even on neighboring nations mount, we will not be heedless and neglectful," said Lean Peace Flores from the ACPA-Children and Youth Secretariat.“Like with the striking and sound of the ‘batingaws,’ we will act on these realities and will even pave the way for the immediate resolution of the crisis," she said added.Flores said the concept of “Batingaw" was derived from old times, where bells were used to send messages both of good tidings and forthcoming dangers that moved people to action.ACPA underscored that the children and youth participation in the battle against pornography is a vital component for their advocacy to work effectively.
It stated that youth involvement in pressing their concerns today foresees the imminent passing of a bill by the country’s legislators to set “strong and definite" policies on child-pornography and related concerns.“We urge our lawmakers and the executive branch of our government to prioritize the drafting and passing of a law that will prosecute the masterminds and practitioners of child pornography," said Flores. -
DNA
Sept 8th, 2007
Youth held for sodomy
A 20 year old youth was arrested for allegedly sodomising a minor boy on Thursday. The incident took place around 5.50 pm when the victim was alone at home. Taking advantage of the situation, Munna Rajaram Gupta, 20, entered the victim's house under the pretext of giving him money and threatened him before sodomising him, the police siad.
Sept 8th, 2007
Youth held for sodomy
A 20 year old youth was arrested for allegedly sodomising a minor boy on Thursday. The incident took place around 5.50 pm when the victim was alone at home. Taking advantage of the situation, Munna Rajaram Gupta, 20, entered the victim's house under the pretext of giving him money and threatened him before sodomising him, the police siad.
DNA
Sex sting op may have been staged
Puneet Nicholas Yadav
Friday, September 07, 2007 11:32 IST
Delhi police have not found evidence against the teacher
NEW DELHI: A week after a TV channel’s sting operation insinuated that Uma Khurana — a Delhi government-school teacher — pushed students into prostitution, investigators have indicated that no evidence has been found to support the accusation.
The Delhi police crime branch is looking into the possibility that Khurana, employed at the Daryaganj branch of Government Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, might have been framed by the channel’s reporter.
A senior officer told DNA that the crime branch has evidence to believe that Prakash Singh, the reporter, had plotted the expose at the behest of one Virendra Arora. Khurana apparently owes a large sum of money to Arora. Khurana has reportedly told the police that Arora had provided the girl shown in the sting.
A source in the crime branch said that the girl was neither a student nor a prostitute, but a part-time journalist from Noida.
“When we questioned the girl, she said that she was a journalist and that she had known Singh. Singh had asked the girl to help him with a ‘mock’ sting operation and she knew nothing about the actual plot,” the source said. “She said that Singh had told her to act as a student being forced into prostitution.” The police are protecting the identity of the girl.
The police have also found another witness to the plot. “Khurana owed money to this man too and Arora wanted his help in the sting,” the source said.
“But this man refused to play a part, and said that he wanted his money back but not through such means.” The source said that the girl and the unnamed man are now the prime witnesses in the case.
Khurana, who has spent the last week in police custody, may be let off once the investigations are over. Arora was remanded to custody four days ago. As for Singh, who has been repeatedly questioned, the police have indicated that charges such as abetment to rioting and cheating may be framed against him. Charges may also be framed against Live India, the channel that aired the sting, the source said. It may be recalled that a mob of about 300 angry parents had gone on a rampage near the school after the channel aired the episode.
The police said that they are in the final stage of investigations and will solve the case in a day or two.
DNA
80 per cent students want sex education: Survey
PTI
Saturday, September 08, 2007 16:24 IST
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: 80 per cent of students welcome sex education in schools as they believe it would help them interact better with opposite sex, a survey conducted among students here have shown.
About 58 per cent prefer co-education in sex education classes and 33 per cent underwent sex education from school, said the study conducted among 452 students from four selected schools by ‘Thrani’, the counselling centre of Foundation for Integrated Research For Mental Health.
The outcome could be generalised for whole of the state as questions asked were of common pattern concerned with thinking of students, V Mukunda Das, Dean, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management- Kerala, said while releasing the study.
Stating that results were disturbing in many aspects, Das said most of the children were victims of sexual abuse in one form or the other and 88 per cent believe sex education would protect them from sexual abuse.
Nearly 31 per cent of the survey participants had been sexually abused at some point of time, Das said adding ‘this is a pointer towards a critical social reality’.
Majority of the students lacked proper knowledge about sexually transmitted disease, HIV Aids, he said.
DNA
Sept 9th, 2007
Watchman charged with rape
Police on Thursday registered a case of cape against a 35 year old watchman for allegedly raping a 15 year old girl in Dongri. The victim used to work as a maid with Rupendra alias Rajendra who allegedly threatened her with dire consequences before raping her on Aug27, 2007, police said. Fed up with the mental torture, she lodged a complaint with the Dongri police station and was kept at the Dongri remand home after medical examination at JJ Hospital. The police are on the lookout for the watchman.
Sex sting op may have been staged
Puneet Nicholas Yadav
Friday, September 07, 2007 11:32 IST
Delhi police have not found evidence against the teacher
NEW DELHI: A week after a TV channel’s sting operation insinuated that Uma Khurana — a Delhi government-school teacher — pushed students into prostitution, investigators have indicated that no evidence has been found to support the accusation.
The Delhi police crime branch is looking into the possibility that Khurana, employed at the Daryaganj branch of Government Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, might have been framed by the channel’s reporter.
A senior officer told DNA that the crime branch has evidence to believe that Prakash Singh, the reporter, had plotted the expose at the behest of one Virendra Arora. Khurana apparently owes a large sum of money to Arora. Khurana has reportedly told the police that Arora had provided the girl shown in the sting.
A source in the crime branch said that the girl was neither a student nor a prostitute, but a part-time journalist from Noida.
“When we questioned the girl, she said that she was a journalist and that she had known Singh. Singh had asked the girl to help him with a ‘mock’ sting operation and she knew nothing about the actual plot,” the source said. “She said that Singh had told her to act as a student being forced into prostitution.” The police are protecting the identity of the girl.
The police have also found another witness to the plot. “Khurana owed money to this man too and Arora wanted his help in the sting,” the source said.
“But this man refused to play a part, and said that he wanted his money back but not through such means.” The source said that the girl and the unnamed man are now the prime witnesses in the case.
Khurana, who has spent the last week in police custody, may be let off once the investigations are over. Arora was remanded to custody four days ago. As for Singh, who has been repeatedly questioned, the police have indicated that charges such as abetment to rioting and cheating may be framed against him. Charges may also be framed against Live India, the channel that aired the sting, the source said. It may be recalled that a mob of about 300 angry parents had gone on a rampage near the school after the channel aired the episode.
The police said that they are in the final stage of investigations and will solve the case in a day or two.
DNA
80 per cent students want sex education: Survey
PTI
Saturday, September 08, 2007 16:24 IST
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: 80 per cent of students welcome sex education in schools as they believe it would help them interact better with opposite sex, a survey conducted among students here have shown.
About 58 per cent prefer co-education in sex education classes and 33 per cent underwent sex education from school, said the study conducted among 452 students from four selected schools by ‘Thrani’, the counselling centre of Foundation for Integrated Research For Mental Health.
The outcome could be generalised for whole of the state as questions asked were of common pattern concerned with thinking of students, V Mukunda Das, Dean, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management- Kerala, said while releasing the study.
Stating that results were disturbing in many aspects, Das said most of the children were victims of sexual abuse in one form or the other and 88 per cent believe sex education would protect them from sexual abuse.
Nearly 31 per cent of the survey participants had been sexually abused at some point of time, Das said adding ‘this is a pointer towards a critical social reality’.
Majority of the students lacked proper knowledge about sexually transmitted disease, HIV Aids, he said.
DNA
Sept 9th, 2007
Watchman charged with rape
Police on Thursday registered a case of cape against a 35 year old watchman for allegedly raping a 15 year old girl in Dongri. The victim used to work as a maid with Rupendra alias Rajendra who allegedly threatened her with dire consequences before raping her on Aug27, 2007, police said. Fed up with the mental torture, she lodged a complaint with the Dongri police station and was kept at the Dongri remand home after medical examination at JJ Hospital. The police are on the lookout for the watchman.
September 7, 2007
DNA dt.Sept 7th, 2007
Renuka, law ministry tussle over child rights bill
Renuka, law ministry tussle over child rights bill
What’s new ??
Child abuse cases at present come under the laws on rape (Section 375 of the IPC), sexual molestation (Section 354) and sodomy (Section 377)
But the proposed law has provisions in addition to the legislations in the IPC and the Juvenile Justice Act
It has specific sections dealing with offences against children, including sale/transfer, sexual assault, sexual/physical/child pornography, which have not been covered under the IPC
Offences such as girl child trafficking not covered under any other law have been introduced.
The Union law ministry is treading carefully on Bills from the Woman and Child Development (WCD) ministry after its Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, came under criticism from the Supreme Court.
The law ministry has returned the proposed Offences Against Children (Prevention) Bill 2005 to the WCD Ministry saying it cannot be passed in its present form as many of its provisions exist under various sections of the IPC. The law ministry asked the WCD to amend the IPC if it felt certain issued had not been addressed.
However, WCD Minister Renuka Choudhury is not willing to buy this argument and is determined to pursue the proposed law. She has now constituted a team of experts to rework on the Bill.
Child abuse cases at present come under the laws on rape (Section 375 of the IPC), sexual molestation (Section 354) and sodomy (Section 377). However, in the absence of a clear definition of sexual abuse, children are largely at the mercy of legal discretion, feels the WCD ministry.
According to the ministry, the new law will have provisions in addition to other legislations within the IPC and the Juvenile Justice Act because these laws do not separately cover people who commit crime against children.
According to an official from the WCD ministry, the proposed law has specific sections dealing with various offences against children, including sale/transfer, sexual assault, sexual/physical/emotional abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, child pornography, grooming for sexual purposes, which have not been covered under the IPC
Offences such as girl child neglect and trafficking which have not been covered under any law have been brought under the purview of the proposed law.
The proposed law has been hailed by child rights activists as it specifically aims at protecting children’s rights.
“The proposed law also has provisions against incest, corporal punishment, bullying and economic exploitation. With the growing number of crime against children, amending the existing laws to incorporate new provisions would not help. We need a full fledged law for children. The proposed law touches all aspects that have remained untouched by the law makers so far,” said Sandhya Bajaj, member of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The WCD ministry wants a central law to prevent child abuse by making it punishable under the law.
The proposed maximum penalty for child abuse is 7 years in prison.
THE TIMES OF INDIA
Dalit teen gangraped by seven in Uttar Pradesh
6 Sep 2007, 1809 hrs IST,PTI
FAIZABAD (UP): A Dalit teenaged girl was allegedly gang raped for three days by seven persons, who abducted her from a village here, police said on Thursday.
The girl was abducted from her house in Dudi village on Tuesday morning by seven youths who gang raped her, police said.
She later managed to escape and told her parents about the incident following which an FIR was lodged.
Police arrested four persons, Guddu, Jugnu, Meraj and Mujeeb, in this connection and efforts were on to nab the others.
Senior police officials including DIG P P Srivastava and SSP, Faizabad B P Tripathi visited the village, where tension was prevailing after the incident.
Heavy police force has been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident, they said.
Dalit teen gangraped by seven in Uttar Pradesh
6 Sep 2007, 1809 hrs IST,PTI
FAIZABAD (UP): A Dalit teenaged girl was allegedly gang raped for three days by seven persons, who abducted her from a village here, police said on Thursday.
The girl was abducted from her house in Dudi village on Tuesday morning by seven youths who gang raped her, police said.
She later managed to escape and told her parents about the incident following which an FIR was lodged.
Police arrested four persons, Guddu, Jugnu, Meraj and Mujeeb, in this connection and efforts were on to nab the others.
Senior police officials including DIG P P Srivastava and SSP, Faizabad B P Tripathi visited the village, where tension was prevailing after the incident.
Heavy police force has been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident, they said.
September 4, 2007
DNA - Sept 4th, 2007
Minor allegdly raped and killed by neighbourPTI
Tuesday, September 04, 2007 14:20 IST
LUCKNOW: A minor girl was allegedly raped and murdered by her neighbour here on Tuesday, following which locals lynched the man leading to his death.
Police sources said that on being informed that the three-year-old girl had been missing since morning, they rushed to Rakabganj locality and on suspicion checked the house of a neighbour and recovered the body.
The recovery of the body sent shock waves among the locals who turned their ire on the neighbour, who had earlier too faced rape charges and had undergone imprisonment.
He was lynched by the locals and died in a trauma centre later, police said.
The body of the girl has been sent for post-mortem.
Mumbai Mirror - Sept 4th
Priest held for trying to rape minor girl Jayaraj Sivan
Chennai: Police arrested a temple priest at Omalur in Salem district on Sunday for attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl.
The incident took place on August 28 when the girl, along with her friends, was playing in front of Chengammal temple near Omalur. The temple priest K Govindasamy enticed her and took her behind the temple and attempted to rape her. She was saved when two of her friends heared her cries and rushed to her rescue. Govindasamy, while releasing her, threatened that he would kill her if she informed anybody. Out of fear, she and her friends kept their mouth shut for a few days. Finally, she informed her parents. Based on a complaint made by her father Arunachalam, Omalur police arrested Govindasamy. He has been remanded to custody.
Priest held on sodomy charges
Patna: A priest has been arrested on charges of sodomizing a minor boy in a Bihar village, police said.
Baba Ramdas, a priest in Sonepur village of Saran district, allegedly lured eight-year-old Suraj with the help of close aide Aniket Kumar Singh. Aniket is absconding from the village. The boy's father told the police that Suraj was treated at home for four days after complaining of bleeding and pain.
Baba Ramdas has denied the charge.
Gulf news
Tutor caught on videotape molesting two schoolgirls
By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
Published: September 04, 2007, 00:37
Dubai: A seven-year-old schoolgirl in her statement against a 62-year-old suspect, charged with molestation said she did not like her tutor because he molested her sister and her.
The Egyptian suspect, I.I., who is a retired teacher, has pleaded innocent of molesting the two Emirati sisters while giving them private lessons before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
The Public Prosecution charged the suspect with molesting the sisters, both under the age of ten during private lessons.
Denial
He denied his charges though the schoolgirls' uncle video filmed the suspected crime secretly and handed the tape to the authorities.
The footage on the tape was blurred but the suspect was heard passing salacious remarks, according to court records.
The seven-year-old girl said: "I hate the teacher. He touches us every time he comes to our house."
The girls' mother said in her statement: "One of my daughters once complained of pains in her back and belly. When I asked her why, she claimed that the teacher had been touching her. I informed my husband and my brother-in-law who kept a watch on the teacher during one of the lessons. He also fixed a secret camera to be able to confirm that what had been happening was true."
The uncle said: "I secretly observed the suspect from a window and saw the seven-year-old girl hitting him with a book and walking away from him. Then when he asked her to come close to him, she jumped back when he touched her." He told the police what he heard on the tape.
The court will rule on the case soon.
Minor allegdly raped and killed by neighbourPTI
Tuesday, September 04, 2007 14:20 IST
LUCKNOW: A minor girl was allegedly raped and murdered by her neighbour here on Tuesday, following which locals lynched the man leading to his death.
Police sources said that on being informed that the three-year-old girl had been missing since morning, they rushed to Rakabganj locality and on suspicion checked the house of a neighbour and recovered the body.
The recovery of the body sent shock waves among the locals who turned their ire on the neighbour, who had earlier too faced rape charges and had undergone imprisonment.
He was lynched by the locals and died in a trauma centre later, police said.
The body of the girl has been sent for post-mortem.
Mumbai Mirror - Sept 4th
Priest held for trying to rape minor girl Jayaraj Sivan
Chennai: Police arrested a temple priest at Omalur in Salem district on Sunday for attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl.
The incident took place on August 28 when the girl, along with her friends, was playing in front of Chengammal temple near Omalur. The temple priest K Govindasamy enticed her and took her behind the temple and attempted to rape her. She was saved when two of her friends heared her cries and rushed to her rescue. Govindasamy, while releasing her, threatened that he would kill her if she informed anybody. Out of fear, she and her friends kept their mouth shut for a few days. Finally, she informed her parents. Based on a complaint made by her father Arunachalam, Omalur police arrested Govindasamy. He has been remanded to custody.
Priest held on sodomy charges
Patna: A priest has been arrested on charges of sodomizing a minor boy in a Bihar village, police said.
Baba Ramdas, a priest in Sonepur village of Saran district, allegedly lured eight-year-old Suraj with the help of close aide Aniket Kumar Singh. Aniket is absconding from the village. The boy's father told the police that Suraj was treated at home for four days after complaining of bleeding and pain.
Baba Ramdas has denied the charge.
Gulf news
Tutor caught on videotape molesting two schoolgirls
By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
Published: September 04, 2007, 00:37
Dubai: A seven-year-old schoolgirl in her statement against a 62-year-old suspect, charged with molestation said she did not like her tutor because he molested her sister and her.
The Egyptian suspect, I.I., who is a retired teacher, has pleaded innocent of molesting the two Emirati sisters while giving them private lessons before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
The Public Prosecution charged the suspect with molesting the sisters, both under the age of ten during private lessons.
Denial
He denied his charges though the schoolgirls' uncle video filmed the suspected crime secretly and handed the tape to the authorities.
The footage on the tape was blurred but the suspect was heard passing salacious remarks, according to court records.
The seven-year-old girl said: "I hate the teacher. He touches us every time he comes to our house."
The girls' mother said in her statement: "One of my daughters once complained of pains in her back and belly. When I asked her why, she claimed that the teacher had been touching her. I informed my husband and my brother-in-law who kept a watch on the teacher during one of the lessons. He also fixed a secret camera to be able to confirm that what had been happening was true."
The uncle said: "I secretly observed the suspect from a window and saw the seven-year-old girl hitting him with a book and walking away from him. Then when he asked her to come close to him, she jumped back when he touched her." He told the police what he heard on the tape.
The court will rule on the case soon.
September 3, 2007
DNA -3rd Sept, 2007, Monday
19 year old held for rape
The Deonar police arrested 19 year old Vikesh Jawle for allegedly raping a 14 year old girl on August 29. According to the police, the victim was on her way to Mankhurd from Powai when Jawle stopped her. “The accused threatened the victim with a sharp object and repeatedly raped her,” said Police Sub-Inspector Dinkar Bhonsale of the Deonar police
Times of India – 3rd Sept, 2007, Monday
78 year old man rapes minor niece
Basudeo Mandal (78) of Bihar’s Jamui district has been arrested on charges of raping his minor niece.
DNA Monday, September 03, 2007
Women related laws being re-cast
Vineeta Pandey
NEW DELHI: As many as 44 Acts of Parliament may need legislative amendments in order to make them conform to the general principle of gender equality and protection of women’s rights.
The WCD ministry, which brought new legislation in 2005 to protect women from domestic violence, has identified 44 central Acts that impinge on the rights of women, directly or indirectly.
Out of the 44 Acts identified as having a direct bearing on women, eight relate to the WCD ministry itself.
Out of the key 8 in for overhaul are:
1.Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition)Act, 1986
2.Immoral Traffic (Prevention)Act, 1956
3.The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
4.Juvenile Justice (Care and Protectionof Children)Act,2000
19 year old held for rape
The Deonar police arrested 19 year old Vikesh Jawle for allegedly raping a 14 year old girl on August 29. According to the police, the victim was on her way to Mankhurd from Powai when Jawle stopped her. “The accused threatened the victim with a sharp object and repeatedly raped her,” said Police Sub-Inspector Dinkar Bhonsale of the Deonar police
Times of India – 3rd Sept, 2007, Monday
78 year old man rapes minor niece
Basudeo Mandal (78) of Bihar’s Jamui district has been arrested on charges of raping his minor niece.
DNA Monday, September 03, 2007
Women related laws being re-cast
Vineeta Pandey
NEW DELHI: As many as 44 Acts of Parliament may need legislative amendments in order to make them conform to the general principle of gender equality and protection of women’s rights.
The WCD ministry, which brought new legislation in 2005 to protect women from domestic violence, has identified 44 central Acts that impinge on the rights of women, directly or indirectly.
Out of the 44 Acts identified as having a direct bearing on women, eight relate to the WCD ministry itself.
Out of the key 8 in for overhaul are:
1.Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition)Act, 1986
2.Immoral Traffic (Prevention)Act, 1956
3.The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
4.Juvenile Justice (Care and Protectionof Children)Act,2000
September 1, 2007
We’re not bringing up our children with confidence
Mumbai Mirror
Saturday, September 01, 2007
When Magsaysay awardee Shantha Sinha was appointed chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, she said she wanted everyone to be indignant about the general state of child abuse. Now, with so many instances of violence against children, Sinha says merely penalising individuals in isolated incidents is not the answer. Mumbai Mirror correspondent Lakshmi talks to her about solutions...
Schoolchildren are increasingly being abused by their teachers — be it allegedly forcing students into prostitution or beating up a student for not doing her homework. What do you have to say about this?
The Delhi incident was shocking. What was uncovered was a single incident, it might not necessarily be the solitary instance. In the Bangalore case, seven teachers had beaten the child. It is not enough to pin blame or responsibility on a few individuals. It is far more generic. It is the pervasiveness of violence and abuse of children that we have in our system.
Has your commission taken cognisance of these incidents?
We can only recommend remedial measures. We are not implementing agencies. More importantly, the state governments must take necessary steps.
Why are children, particularly those who go to school, the subject of so much abuse?
From the beginning, we have taught our children to be obedient and submissive. We are not bringing them up with confidence. We have not given them the courage to say ‘no’. Instinctively, children discriminate between good touch and bad touch. They can also distinguish a good gaze from an evil one.
But still children cannot resist violence...
Children are usually silent because they are not sure if the world of adults is going to listen to them. That is why in our seven-point charter, we have suggested that schools put up a complaint box where a child can drop anonymous complaints about corporal punishment.
In early August, your circular about launching an awareness campaign against violence by teachers had even included verbal abuse...
Any hurtful utterance should be seen as an affront to the child’s dignity. We cannot have gradations of insults. Adults must recognise this. We must not ask children to bear with small insults and tackle only the big ones. We should not wait till there is a physical assault on the child. Hurtful words are as serious an offence as a slap. As for implementation of the circular, the education department of all states have two months to implement the charter.
You have expertise in working with underprivileged children, as your forte has been movement against child labour. While dealing with issues of violence on school children, don't find yourself tackling middle-class issues?
Violence against children cuts across class. It is not just the school-going children from the middle class who face the brunt of teachers. First generation learners from poor families face a tougher time in school. For them, it is traumatic even to go to school as they get taunted for getting the wrong note book.
What about the parental duty of disciplining a child?
Punishment is different from discipline. You can mentor a child without punishing him or her.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
When Magsaysay awardee Shantha Sinha was appointed chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, she said she wanted everyone to be indignant about the general state of child abuse. Now, with so many instances of violence against children, Sinha says merely penalising individuals in isolated incidents is not the answer. Mumbai Mirror correspondent Lakshmi talks to her about solutions...
Schoolchildren are increasingly being abused by their teachers — be it allegedly forcing students into prostitution or beating up a student for not doing her homework. What do you have to say about this?
The Delhi incident was shocking. What was uncovered was a single incident, it might not necessarily be the solitary instance. In the Bangalore case, seven teachers had beaten the child. It is not enough to pin blame or responsibility on a few individuals. It is far more generic. It is the pervasiveness of violence and abuse of children that we have in our system.
Has your commission taken cognisance of these incidents?
We can only recommend remedial measures. We are not implementing agencies. More importantly, the state governments must take necessary steps.
Why are children, particularly those who go to school, the subject of so much abuse?
From the beginning, we have taught our children to be obedient and submissive. We are not bringing them up with confidence. We have not given them the courage to say ‘no’. Instinctively, children discriminate between good touch and bad touch. They can also distinguish a good gaze from an evil one.
But still children cannot resist violence...
Children are usually silent because they are not sure if the world of adults is going to listen to them. That is why in our seven-point charter, we have suggested that schools put up a complaint box where a child can drop anonymous complaints about corporal punishment.
In early August, your circular about launching an awareness campaign against violence by teachers had even included verbal abuse...
Any hurtful utterance should be seen as an affront to the child’s dignity. We cannot have gradations of insults. Adults must recognise this. We must not ask children to bear with small insults and tackle only the big ones. We should not wait till there is a physical assault on the child. Hurtful words are as serious an offence as a slap. As for implementation of the circular, the education department of all states have two months to implement the charter.
You have expertise in working with underprivileged children, as your forte has been movement against child labour. While dealing with issues of violence on school children, don't find yourself tackling middle-class issues?
Violence against children cuts across class. It is not just the school-going children from the middle class who face the brunt of teachers. First generation learners from poor families face a tougher time in school. For them, it is traumatic even to go to school as they get taunted for getting the wrong note book.
What about the parental duty of disciplining a child?
Punishment is different from discipline. You can mentor a child without punishing him or her.
Parents riot over school scandal
NDTV Correspondent
Friday, August 31, 2007 (New Delhi)
Parents have lashed out after discovering that a teacher entrusted with nurturing their children violated them in the worst possible way.
An expose on a TV channel showed Usha Khurana, a maths teacher in a government school in Delhi, shooting pornographic films at the last school where she worked.
Khurana would allegedly offer private tuitions to students, then drug them and allow strangers to molest them.
Parents who recognized Khurana rushed to her new school where she has been teaching for six months and has been equally predatory.
She allegedly invited female students to her house promising them a better life if they allowed her to prostitute them.
''She asked students to come home and promised to give them a job,'' said a student.
What is more worrying is that parents and students had repeatedly complained about Khrurana to the principal. But no action was taken and Khurana was not even questioned about these allegations.
''My niece complained with a couple of her friends and nothing was done,'' said Maqsood Qarim, parent.
It took just a few minutes for the demonstration by 300 people, including parents, to turn into a riot.
A jeep was set on fire and one child was injured in the violence. According to reports, 20 people have been arrested.
Government sources admit they knew Khurana's record with children had been dangerous but there wasn't enough evidence to fire her from her previous assignment.
''We have been receiving a lot of complaints regarding teachers. We need to spread awareness among our children. They have to know that if something of this sort is happening needs to be reported,'' said Girija Vyas, Chairman NCW.
Even today, the response is inadequate. ''We have constituted a committee to look into the matter and also suspended her,'' said Arvinder Singh Lovely, Education Minister, Delhi.
Friday, August 31, 2007 (New Delhi)
Parents have lashed out after discovering that a teacher entrusted with nurturing their children violated them in the worst possible way.
An expose on a TV channel showed Usha Khurana, a maths teacher in a government school in Delhi, shooting pornographic films at the last school where she worked.
Khurana would allegedly offer private tuitions to students, then drug them and allow strangers to molest them.
Parents who recognized Khurana rushed to her new school where she has been teaching for six months and has been equally predatory.
She allegedly invited female students to her house promising them a better life if they allowed her to prostitute them.
''She asked students to come home and promised to give them a job,'' said a student.
What is more worrying is that parents and students had repeatedly complained about Khrurana to the principal. But no action was taken and Khurana was not even questioned about these allegations.
''My niece complained with a couple of her friends and nothing was done,'' said Maqsood Qarim, parent.
It took just a few minutes for the demonstration by 300 people, including parents, to turn into a riot.
A jeep was set on fire and one child was injured in the violence. According to reports, 20 people have been arrested.
Government sources admit they knew Khurana's record with children had been dangerous but there wasn't enough evidence to fire her from her previous assignment.
''We have been receiving a lot of complaints regarding teachers. We need to spread awareness among our children. They have to know that if something of this sort is happening needs to be reported,'' said Girija Vyas, Chairman NCW.
Even today, the response is inadequate. ''We have constituted a committee to look into the matter and also suspended her,'' said Arvinder Singh Lovely, Education Minister, Delhi.
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