Centre to issue guidelines for states under anti-abuse law

To help states in effective implementation of the new law against child sexual abuse, the Centre will soon come out with guidelines for NGOs, experts and others associated with the pre-trial and trial stage to assist the victims.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has initiated the process of drafting model guidelines under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 which came into force in November last year, Krishna Tirath said today at a national conference.
She said the guidelines are being finalised by the Ministry and will be released soon.
Section 39 of the Act requires the state governments to prepare guidelines for non-governmental organisations, professionals and experts or persons having knowledge of psychology, social work, physical health, mental health and child development to be associated with the pre-trial and trial stage to assist the child.

Based on the requests it received from a number of state governments, the Ministry is framing the model guidelines to assist the state governments in drafting their own expeditiously as required under the Act.
As state governments and other stakeholders have a key role in the effective implementation of the Act, the Ministry held a regional conference on July 30 in Delhi to spread awareness about the mandate and outreach of this special criminal law for the protection of children.
The Guidelines are based on the fundamental principles laid down in the Preamble of POCSO Act, 2012, which include best interest of the child, right to life and survival, right to be treated with dignity and compassion, right to be protected from discrimination, right to be informed, right to participation, right to safety, right to compensation etc.