Attorneys Serving the Community’s Post

**Protecting Our Children: Understanding the POCSO Act** By Advocate David Chaudhary The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, stands as a crucial legislative framework in India aimed at safeguarding children from sexual abuse and exploitation. The act recognizes the vulnerability of children and ensures that they are provided with special protection under the law. One of the key features of the POCSO Act is its child-centric approach. It stipulates that inquiries and trials must be conducted in a child-friendly manner, minimizing stress and trauma for the young victims. Moreover, the act mandates the establishment of special courts to expedite trials, ensuring swift justice for children who find themselves in distressing circumstances. The act also emphasizes mandatory reporting; professionals working with children, such as teachers and healthcare providers, are legally obligated to report any suspicion of child abuse. This provision aims to encourage a proactive community response to protect children. Importantly, the POCSO Act encompasses various forms of sexual offenses, including sexual assault, harassment, and pornography, presenting a comprehensive approach to tackling child sexual abuse. Despite its robust framework, awareness remains a significant challenge. It is imperative to educate parents, educators, and community members about the POCSO Act to foster an environment where children feel safe. Let us unite to advocate for our children's rights, ensuring that the principles of the POCSO Act are upheld, and that every child can grow up free from fear and exploitation.

🧑⚕️⚠️ 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: Domestic violence and child sex abuse concerns are being “discounted” in custody disputes as “mischievous or malicious” allegations, putting children at risk of further abuse, a report from the Department of Justice warns. “𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘰, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨, … 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴.” Conducted between June and October 2023, the report draws on direct consultations with children and 38 stakeholders including Women’s Aid, Men’s Aid, children’s rights organisations, Tusla, court assessors and District, Circuit and High Court judges. Desk-based reviews of reports on family justice were conducted. The study says court-appointed experts in family law cases, tasked with reporting on the best interests of children, are unregulated and often inadequately trained on domestic violence and its impact on children but “can have a significant influence on a case See 🔗 here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eV3yW7ZW And report 🔗 here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ePZsXtSM And here ⬇️

🌟 Understanding the Importance of the POCSO Act 🌟 Child sexual abuse is a critical issue that demands our attention and action. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012, is a vital legal framework designed to safeguard children from such heinous crimes. In my latest article, I delve into the essence, key provisions, and challenges in implementing the POCSO Act, along with recent developments that highlight its significance in today's society. 🔍 Key Highlights: 💡 Comprehensive Legal Protection: Detailed definitions and penalties for various sexual offenses against children. 💡 Child-Centric Procedures: Measures to ensure child-friendly reporting, investigation, and trial processes. 💡 Challenges and Solutions: Discussing the practical hurdles in implementing POCSO and strategies to overcome them. ✨ Why It Matters: Understanding the POCSO Act is crucial for all of us to ensure the safety and protection of our children. By being informed, raising awareness, and supporting victims, we can contribute to creating a safer environment for the next generation. 📖 Read the Full Article: https://lnkd.in/dU-fzS77 Let's work together to uphold the principles of POCSO and build a society where every child can grow up free from fear and harm. #ChildProtection #POCSO #ChildRights #LegalAwareness #JusticeForVictims #SafeguardingChildren #LawAndOrder #SocialResponsibility #MLCS

Our Hidden Shame: The Dark Truth of Female Abusers and the Unseen Scars of Male Children This research article, entitled "Our Hidden Shame: The Dark Truth of Female Abusers and the Unseen Scars of Male Children," addresses the frequently overlooked and insufficiently documented issue of child abuse done by women against male children. The research collected and reviewed for this article presents findings from a thorough examination of real-world data, most importantly from the Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS-4). It discloses that more than 30% of child abuse cases involve women as perpetrators, with significant occurrences of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. This research article also reveals the inherent and intentional biases and prejudices present in mental health and judicial systems that contribute to the under reporting and insufficient punishment of these cases of abuse. This research article emphasizes the pressing need for gender-neutral policy and training within child protection and law enforcement agencies by questioning the prevailing cultural narratives that mostly depict men as aggressors. The results necessitate extensive revisions to guarantee that all victims, irrespective of their gender, have the justice and assistance they are entitled to. The objective of this research is to fuel thoughtful discussion and bring about fundamental reforms in the mental health and legal professions to enhance the safeguarding of vulnerable children and disrupt the pattern of abuse that is passed down through generations. #ChildAbuse #Children #Abuse #DomesticViolence #FamilyCourt Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Protective Services Family Court Donald Trump Jr. Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

#ChildAbuse and #neglect is a multifaceted issue that demands urgent attention. This recent article from February 2024 talks about the severity of the problem and the efforts being made to combat it. However, a critical aspect that often gets overlooked is the importance of #earlyintervention and the detrimental effects of miscommunication within different agencies handling these cases. Early intervention is crucial in preventing child abuse. It is not just about responding swiftly once abuse has occurred, but about identifying and addressing #riskfactors before abuse can occur. This #proactive approach can include providing support to families facing difficulties, educating children about their rights, and training professionals (or rather aiding professionals with tools) that can recognize signs of abuse. Early intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life, helping them to avoid the long-term physical and psychological consequences. However, the effectiveness of early intervention is often undermined by #miscommunication within and between agencies responsible for child protection. Different agencies such as the social services, law enforcement, health care providers, and educational institutions often work in silos, with inadequate information sharing. This lack of coordination can lead to crucial information falling through the cracks, hindering the identification of children at risk and delaying necessary interventions. Misinformation can lead to misconceptions about the prevalence and nature of child abuse, causing society to underestimate the problem. It can also result in misguided policies and interventions that fail to address the root causes of abuse. https://lnkd.in/ddpuntfr #childabuseawareness #earlyintervention #proactiveapproach

"Abuse of the term “Parental Alienation” and of similar concepts and terms invoked to deny child custody to the mother and grant it to a father accused of domestic violence in a manner that totally disregards the possible risks for the child must be discouraged. Accusations of parental alienation by abusive fathers against mothers must be considered as a continuation of power and control by state agencies and actors, including those deciding on child custody.” — UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures Experts — October 20, 2022 This article examines the disturbing history and intentions of the debunked concept of “parental alienation” that continues to successfully extract health, safety, well-being, and basic human rights from safe parents and children around the globe. While this issue impacts safe parents of all genders and their children, current research proves that safe mothers are losing custody disproportionately when this go-to weapon is employed by abusers and their attorneys in family court. . #parentalienation #FamilyCourtReform #FamilyCourt #metoofamilycourt

"Abuse of the term “Parental Alienation” and of similar concepts and terms invoked to deny child custody to the mother and grant it to a father accused of domestic violence in a manner that totally disregards the possible risks for the child must be discouraged. Accusations of parental alienation by abusive fathers against mothers must be considered as a continuation of power and control by state agencies and actors, including those deciding on child custody.” — UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures Experts — October 20, 2022 This article examines the disturbing history and intentions of the debunked concept of “parental alienation” that continues to successfully extract health, safety, well-being, and basic human rights from safe parents and children around the globe. While this issue impacts safe parents of all genders and their children, current research proves that safe mothers are losing custody disproportionately when this go-to weapon is employed by abusers and their attorneys in family court. . #parentalienation #FamilyCourtReform #FamilyCourt #metoofamilycourt

"Abuse of the term “Parental Alienation” and of similar concepts and terms invoked to deny child custody to the mother and grant it to a father accused of domestic violence in a manner that totally disregards the possible risks for the child must be discouraged. Accusations of parental alienation by abusive fathers against mothers must be considered as a continuation of power and control by state agencies and actors, including those deciding on child custody.” — UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures Experts — October 20, 2022 This article examines the disturbing history and intentions of the debunked concept of “parental alienation” that continues to successfully extract health, safety, well-being, and basic human rights from safe parents and children around the globe. While this issue impacts safe parents of all genders and their children, current research proves that safe mothers are losing custody disproportionately when this go-to weapon is employed by abusers and their attorneys in family court. . #parentalienation #FamilyCourtReform #FamilyCourt #metoofamilycourt

False Narratives In Public Policy A BIG underlying challenge in reforming family court, child protection, and domestic violence systems is overcoming false narratives. The biggest one is men are predominately perpetrators and women are almost always the victim of DV. Same for child abuse. Men are abusers and women are protectors. Despite the wealth of data and social science to the contrary, most policymakers have a natural tendency and desire to protect women and children. And when a mother falsely portrays herself as a victim and pleads for protection, most policymakers won't do their due diligence to ensure policies are based on reliable data, peer-reviewed social science, are gender inclusive, or ensure due process protections regardless of gender, they just jump on board and offer their support. I recently engaged with prominent child and family policy organization trying to gain their support for two legislative bills that would have a generational impact on families caught up in family court. Read more of why they oppose this legislation and my reply to them to keep the dialogue going. https://lnkd.in/gVmk4aGz Michael E. Caruso, MBA James Sisco Bill Corbitt We Have Had Enough Julie Haskell Susan J. Bassi Maryann Petri Mary Auld-Kovacs Dr. Jennifer Jill Harman Karina S. Leisa Loftis, CPA

ALHR expresses profound concern at the numerous violations of Australia’s obligations under the #CRC #CRPD #CAT & #CERD occurring due to the Queensland Government’s detention of #children in adult police watch houses. While the QLD Government does have the power to make the grave error of suspending its own Human Rights Act, it has no such power to cast aside Australia’s binding international obligations under the core UN #humanrights treaties. This archaic, punitive, anti-human rights approach disproportionately impacts Fist Nations children & children with #disability. These systemic human rights violations are not isolated incidents. Advocates, public servants and the media have been raising the alarm in relation to the treatment of children in Queensland’s watch houses for years. Treating children in this way is not only deplorably cruel, it is beyond pointless. The evidence is very clear: Imprisoning young children in facilities designed for adults & subjecting them to inhumane treatment & torture does not work. Harming vulnerable children does not reduce rates of offending. It does not make our communities safer places to live. The evidence as to what does work is equally clear: #raisetheage to at least 14 years with no exceptions, ensure detention is a last resort for any child, fund early intervention, justice reinvestment, diversion & trauma informed community-led solutions that keep children in school, in culture & in their community. https://lnkd.in/g7X29UTi Story and documentary by Guardian Australia and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia’s The Feed #auslaw #childrensrights #crc #cat #crpd #cedaw #uncrc #qldpol #opcat #fasdawareness Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC) Change the Record Sisters Inside