About NCPCR

• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is a statutory body established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
• The commission works under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child development.
• NCPCR is mandated to function for the protection and promotion of child rights. It is also mandated to monitor the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
• The Commission may inquire into complaints and take suo motu notice of matters relating to-
  • Deprivation and violation of child rights;
  • Non-implementation of laws providing for protection and development of children;
  • Non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to and ensuring welfare of the children and to provide relief to such children;

Constitution

• The commission consist of the following members namely:-
  • A chairperson who, is a person of eminence and has done a outstanding work for promoting  the welfare of children; and
  • Six members, out of which at least two are women, are appointed by the Central Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability, integrity, standing and experience in Education; Child health, care or related fields.

Why in News?

• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights organised a regional consultative meeting on POCSO.

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2011 

• The Act, which came into force in 2012, is the first comprehensive law in the country dealing specifically with sexual abuse of children.
• Under the Act, any person below the age of 18 years is defined as a “child”.
• The Act increased the scope of reporting offences against children, which were not earlier covered under the Indian Penal Code. This included aggravated penetrative sexual assault to include punishment for abuse by a person in position of trust or authority including public servants, police, armed forces, management or staff of an educational or religious institution.
• It also defined the procedure for reporting of cases, including a provision for punishment for failure to report a case or false complaint. 
• It provided procedures for recording of the statement of a child by the police and court, laying down that it should be done in a child-friendly manner, and by the setting up of special courts.
• Each district shall designate a Sessions Court to be a Special Court. The Court shall, as far as possible, complete the trial within one year. The trial shall be held in camera and in the presence of the child’s parents or any person trusted by the child.
• The Act also includes penalties for use of children for the purpose of pornography and abetment of an offence.

2019 Amendment

• The Act was amended in 2019 to enhance punishment under various sections of the Act including punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault to be increased to include death penalty.
• The important part of this act is that it is gender-neutral and creates no discrimination against children belonging to any gender be it cis male, cis female, trans male, trans female, or any other gender.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1837144