NHRC’s Virtual Conference on Online Child Sexual Abuse Material make several key suggestions

24th July, 2020, New Delhi

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India held a webinar “Online child Sexual Abuse Material” on 20th July, 2020. Mrs. Jyotika Kalra, Member chaired it and the inaugural address was presented by Mr. Jaideep Govind, Secretary General, NHRC.

The aim of the conference was to address the problem of increasing use and demand for Child Sexual Abuse Material especially during the lock down period during Covid pandemic.

Some of the important suggestions emanated from the deliberations are as follows:-

1. Discussing with and making children aware about their bodies and sexual expression through sex education, including sensitizing them to prevent their grooming than criminalizing their natural curiosity as a first step in ensuring their safety online;

2. improving the process of report incidences relating to circulation of CSAM material including expanding the scope of existing helpline numbers and tracking portals;

3. establishing district-wise task force to address the issue;

4. adopting a zero-tolerance police when such incidences are reported;

5. conducting training programmes for children, parents and schools to address the issue of cyber safety;and

6. evolving systems to filter CSAM content than blocking pornographic websites; etc.

For other agency-specific recommendations, the Commission will also be following-up with the concerned Ministries and organizations in the matter.

The conference was divided into three technical sessions, namely (i) Role of Law and the Ways to Strengthen It, (ii) The Boom of Social Media and the Psycho-Social Impact of Child Pornography, and (iii) Tackling Heads-On: Strategies for Parents, Schools and State, the panellist of the Conference, including Shri Yashwant Jain- Member, NCPCR, Shri Balsing Rajput- SP-Cyber, Maharashtra, Smt. Uma Subramanian- Co-Director, Aarambh India,Smt. Bharti Ali- Executive Director, HAQ-CRC, and Dr. Sunitha Krishnan- Padma Shri Awardee & Founding Chief Functionary of Prajwala, shed light upon the different aspects pertaining to the menace.

The conference had participation from NHRC’s officers, various subject experts and key stakeholders including representative from Ministries such as Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, MeitY.

A publication by NHRC, titled ‘UNCRC and Indian Legislations, Judgements & Schemes-A Comparative Study by NHRC’ a publication by NHRC, was also officially released by Mrs. Kalra during this conference.

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