Parliament clears bill providing the death penalty for sexual assault against children:
Yesterday Lok Sabha cleared a bill seeking to provide death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children and punishments for other crimes against a minor. Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Children Development said: the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2019, is critical because it clearly defines child pornography and makes it punishable.
The bill received support from all the parties and was passed by voice votes. Though, the members also demanded that the amendments to the POCSO Act must be referred to the standing committee or selected committee as it makes certain offenses punishable with death.
. Now the bill will be to the President for his signature, to bring it as a LAW. The Bill, which was already approved by the Rajya Sabha, defines child pornography, making it punishable. so that sexual predators indulging in such evil crimes could be punished. She also said the court of this country even has the power to punish MLAs and MPs.
The minister also regretted that almost 5,000 persons followed a child pornography site which was operated by a single person. She said: “This is a matter of grave concern for the society. The site had even shown the rape of a minor girl.”
The bill would deliver added legal protection to 39% of population or 43 crore children, irrespective of their gender whether they are a girl or boy. “We want to provide added protection to children. In rarest to rare cases death (penalty), she said.
The minister also told that CBSE will carry out sessions in schools across the country to raise awareness about good and bad touch. And more than 40,000 teachers will be trained for these awareness programs.
It is also said that under the witness protection scheme, all measures such as doing threat assessment of the victim and witness and if required even changing their identity and others were taken to safeguard their safety.
