European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

FORENSIC STUDY ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE UNDER POCSO ACT

U. K. Kulkarni*, Dr. K. V. Kulkarni, R. N. Kokre and B. B. Daundkar

ABSTRACT

Children are the GOD gift to humanity but among them are most vulnerable sections in any society. Their sexual abuse is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Child Sexual assault is a serious, pervasive social issue POCSO act is formulated to effectively address the heinous crimes of sexual abuse and sexual exploitations of children. Every day, Forensic science Laboratories receives 5 to 6 cases of child sexual abuse. So objective of this study is to bring out some shocking facts and its main finding in relation with sexual abuse which are- child sexual abuse cases under IPC 376,377,354 POCSO act 2012 were reported by 48% children. Among them, 43% were male child and 54% were female child, 24% of child respondents faced severe forms of sexual abuse, 19% had been sexually assaulted and 57% reported other forms of sexual abuse. This paper also represents a humble attempt to highlight briefly on the awareness of POCSO act.

Keywords: POCSO act, IPC, Child sexual abuse.