POCSO Amendment bill: Death for child rapists pro or anti-child measure?

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which aims to make punishments more stringent by including death penalty for offenders involved in sexual crimes against minors.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 provides for stringent punishment, including life imprisonment, for using children for pornographic purposes.

The new law is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to the strong penal provisions in the Act. It intends to protect the interests of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity.