A Study of Healthcare Providers' Perceptions of POCSO in Jaipur to Improve Protection of Children from Online Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

Worldwide, millions of youngsters are victims of sexual exploitation; among females under the age of 20, one out of 10 will be sexually abused against their will. India is home to over half of the world’s youngsters, yet there are more than twice as many adults as children who need assistance. The POCSO Act established a child-friendly system for reporting, documenting evidence, investigating, and expediting the prosecution of crimes via designated Special Courts and consolidated all laws relating to sexual offences against children, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and pornography. Legal protections against this kind of child exploitation must be enforced immediately and without delay. Particularly in cities like Jaipur, where internet access is expanding at a fast pace, protecting children from sexual abuse, sextortion, and child pornography is of the utmost importance. Programs that teach people how to be safe online may do a lot to get the word out and equip people to be good digital citizens. The fight against sexual exploitation on the internet requires a concerted effort from several sectors, including the government, police enforcement, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), schools, and IT companies. Protecting children from sexual exploitation online and fighting the pandemic of online child abuse may be achieved by addressing identified flaws. A solution to this information vacuum is to include the POCSO Act to reinforce its teachings via regular continuing medical education (CME), lectures, and workshops.