National Conference senior leader and Member of Parliament, Hasnain Masoodi, Friday called for strengthening child protection structures.
While participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on POCSO(Amendment) Act, he said, “The amendment proposes to prescribe minimumsentences for various categories of sexual assault ranging from five years to20 years. It also provides for enhanced punishment for such categories,including imprisonment for remainder of biological life and even deathsentence. The Bill also takes cognizance of pornography and provides forenhanced punishment where the offence also involves sexual assault.”
While supporting the Bill, Masoodi demanded that deathsentence without discretion to the trial judge be restricted to cases wheredeath of the victim occurs during commission of the offence or because ofoffence.
He emphasized that the child protection structures can playa big role in creating awareness, reporting and in prevention of child abuse.