The Issue
Despite this alarming statistic, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) remains a
hidden epidemic, shrouded in silence and fear.
The Rakshin Project aims to combat this issue by empowering young people to confront the silence, stigma, shame, and denial surrounding CSA. Through education and awareness, we aim to break the cycle of abuse and create a safer future for our children.
1 in 2 children are
sexually abused in
India. That’s 50% of
the population.
“Is my child just spoilt or are the violent tantrums because he is being sexually abused?”
Sexually abused children are often tormented by shame and guilt. They may feel that they are responsible for the abuse or somehow have brought it upon themselves. This can lead to self-loathing, sexual problems and relationship problems as they grow older.
Child sexual abuse is an especially complicated form of abuse because of its layers of guilt and shame. It’s important to recognize that sexual abuse doesn’t always involve body contact. It can involve exposing a child to sexual situations or materials that are sexually abusive, whether or not touching is done.
The shame of sexual abuse makes it very difficult for children to come forward. They may worry that others won’t believe them, will be angry with them, or that it will split their family. Because of these difficulties, false accusations of sexual abuse are not common, if a child confides in you take them seriously.
If you suspect that a child is undergoing abuse, it’s critical to report it—and to continue reporting each separate incidence if it continues to recur. The more information you can provide, the better the chance of the child getting the help they deserve.
See something,
Hear something,
Say something.
Reporting Child Sexual Abuse
is just the beginning step
towards justice and healing.
The Ministry of Women & Child Development, Govt. of India is establishing One Stop Centres (OSC) to provide support and assistance to survivors of gender violence . Thus, comprehensive services, including medical, police, psychosocial counselling, legal aid, shelter, referral and facilities for video-conferencing are provided ‘under one roof’. For those below 18 years, these are undertaken in coordination with authorities under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2011 and the POCSO Act, 2012. The scheme is centrally sponsored with 100% financial assistance.
POST REPORTING PROCEDURE
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Every case of sexual assault is a medical emergency for which free treatment is mandatory at government or private medical facilities, and no document or precondition is necessary for providing emergency medical care.A survivor of CSA may approach a health facility directly for treatment, with a police requisition after police complaint, or with a court directive. The hospital is bound to provide treatment and conduct a medical examination with consent of the child/parent/guardian, depending upon the age of the child. The survivor may or may not want to lodge a complaint, but requires medical examination and treatment. In such cases, the doctor is bound to inform the police as per law. However, neither court nor the police can force the survivor to undergo medical examination without an informed consent of the child/parent/guardian. If the victim does not want to pursue a police case, a medico-legal case (MLC) must be made and an informed refusal documented. If the victim has reported with a police requisition or wishes to lodge a complaint later, the information about MLC number and police station must be recorded.
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Informed consent must be obtained, which is required for examination, collection of samples for forensic examination, treatment and police intimation. If the child is over 12 years of age, consent should be sought from the child. For those below the age of 12 years, a parent or guardian is required to provide it. Such consent should be informed and the person providing the consent should be clearly explained the purpose, expected risks, benefits and any adverse effects of the examination, and the amount of time it will consume. This information should be provided before the examination is conducted.
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The diagnosis of CSA is most often based on the history, as opposed to physical findings; and thus obtaining a meticulous history of the child’s experience is crucial.The interview should be conducted in a facilitative, non-judgmental and empathetic manner and should not have an investigative tone, which is the domain of the police and courts.The interview process & seeking answers to:
The family’s psychosocial background.
The child’s developmental level.
The questions and the child’s responses are recorded verbatim.
The body language, demeanour and emotional responses are noted.
The likelihood of behavioural complaints and physical findings that may suggest sexual abuse should be considered.
Past medical history, incidents of abuse or suspicious injuries, and menstrual history should be documented.
Information is obtained about the child’s behaviour, specially sexualized behaviours and in young children, the names the child uses for body parts (breasts, vagina, penis, anus).
Leading and suggestive questions are avoided and expression of strong emotional responses such as shock or disbelief is resisted. A review of systems is done focusing on any anal and genital complaints such as bleeding, discharge, pain, or past genital injury. The history of sexual abuse is ideally obtained without the presence of the parent or caregiver. The child and the parents should be informed and reassured that the paediatric forensic examination is not invasive or painful and that internal instrumentation or speculum insertion is carried out only when considered essential.
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Doctors are legally bound to examine and provide treatment to survivors of sexual violence. Timely reporting, documentation and collection of forensic evidence are important toward investigation of the crime. Police personnel should not be present during any part of the examination.Where the victim is a girl, the medical examination has to be conducted by a woman doctor in the presence of the parent of the child or any other person in whom the child reposes trust or confidence. If such a person cannot be present, the examination is conducted in the presence of a woman nominated by the head of the medical institution. The elements of physical examination include particular attention to the following
calming the child during examination
positioning for optimal exposure of prepubertal genital structures: frog-leg supine position, knee-chest or left lateral decubitus position
General observation and inspection of the anogenital area, looking for signs of injury or infection and noting the child’s emotional status.
Examination of mons pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris, urethral meatus, hymen, posterior fourchette, and fossa navicularis.
Visualization of the more recessed genital structures, using handheld magnification or colposcopy as necessary.
Collection of specimens for sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening and forensic evidence collection.
It is important to realize that physical examination in CSA is very likely to be within normal limits in most cases. The absence of abnormal findings can be explained by several factors. Many forms of sexual abuse do not cause physical injury. Thus, sexual abuse may be non-penetrating contact and may involve fondling, oral-genital, genital or anal contact, as well as genital-genital contact without penetration. Mucosal tissue is elastic and may be stretched without injury, and superficial abrasions and fissures can heal within a few days. The perpetrators are often known to the child and family and the use of physical force is rarely a major component in CSA as in adult sexual assaults. Disclosure of abuse is often delayed for weeks or months, and by that time any physical evidence may be absent. The abnormal findings observed may be attributable to acute injury incurred during the recent episode or indicative of residual effects following repeated episodes of genital contact in the past.
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The following investigations are routinely carried out.
Gram stain of vaginal or anal discharge
Genital, anal, and pharyngeal culture for Gonorrhea
Genital and anal culture for Chlamydia.
Serology for syphilis
Wet preparation of vaginal discharge for Trichomonas vaginalis
Culture of lesions for herpes virus
Serology for HIV (based on suspected risk)
Collection of forensic evidence employing the Rape Kit and Urine toxicology screen (if the abuse or assault was likely to be substance-facilitated) may be required.
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Forensic evidence includes blood, semen, sperm, hair or skin fragments that could link the assault to an individual person, as well as debris (e.g., carpet fibers) that could help to identify the location. Collection of specimens and material should be done if sexual contact has occurred within 96 hours of the physical examination. The purpose of a forensic examination is to ascertain the following:
Whether a sexual act has been attempted or completed. Sexual acts include the slightest genital, anal or oral penetration by the penis, fingers or other objects as well as any form of sexual touching. The absence of injuries does not imply consent of the victim for the act.
Whether the sexual act is recent and if any injury has been caused to the child’s body.
The age of the survivor in cases involving of adolescents.
Whether alcohol or any other intoxicating substances have been administered to the child.
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Emergency medical care must be provided in a case of CSA. Police or magisterial requisition is not required for that purpose. The management of CSA includes the following:
Treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is carried out with appropriate medications.
In post-menarcheal girls, the likelihood of pregnancy and the need for emergency contraception is considered.
Emotional support is provided.
CSA, whether confirmed or strongly suspected, must be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Detailed, well-documented medical records must be kept, since these are crucial in legal proceedings, which may take place after a lapse of long periods.
Referral to a mental health specialist should be made in all cases, which is required for evaluation and treatment of acute stress reaction, and subsequently posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Referral to other specialists should be made as required.
Proper collection of material, depending upon the history of sexual violence, is of utmost importance for medicolegal purposes. Such assault can be peno-vaginal, peno-anal, peno-oral, masturbation and use objects for penetration. Thus the material can be semen, faecal matter, lubricant, saliva and hairs. Detailed instructions about collecting forensic evidence are provided by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The material should be properly packed, sealed, labelled and sent to the police.The Ministry of Women & Child Development, Govt. of India is establishing One Stop Centres (OSC) to provide support and assistance to survivors of gender violence . Thus, comprehensive services, including medical, police, psychosocial counselling, legal aid, shelter, referral and facilities for video-conferencing are provided ‘under one roof’. For those below 18 years, these are undertaken in coordination with authorities under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2011 and the POCSO Act, 2012. The scheme is centrally sponsored with 100% financial assistance.
RESOURCES FOR DOWNLOAD (PDF)
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Amended Act 2019.
Individuals can now lodge their complaints at National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)’s POCSO e-box. Considering the growing menace of cyber crimes targeting children, NCPCR has now enhanced the scope of POCSO e-box to handle cyber bullying, cyber stalking, morphing of images and child pornography.
Child victims themselves or their friends, parents, relatives or guardians can report cyber crimes by pressing the e-box button available at the Commission’s website, www.ncpcr.gov.in.
They can also register their complaints on
E-mail ID : mailto:pocsoebox-ncpcr@gov.in or
Mobile No.: +91 22 4972 6857.
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This COVID-19 period has seen a surge in demand for violent child pornography by 200% as per ICPF, sexual violence has spiked by 7.3% since 2018 as per the NCRB report, we have seen an emergence of an unprecedented rise in domestic violence and child sexual abuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) 2012, all the following actions are criminal and will be punishable by law as child sexual abuse:
Penetrative Sexual Assault: Insertion of penis/object/another body part in child’s vagina/urethra/anus/mouth, or asking the child to do so with them or some other person
Sexual Assault: When a person touches the child, or makes the child touch them or someone else
Sexual Harassment: passing sexually coloured remark, sexual gesture/noise, repeatedly following, flashing, etc.
Child Pornography
Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault/ Aggravated Sexual Assault
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Child Sexual Abuse is an epidemic in this country and occurs in all parts of India, among all classes of society. Study on Child Abuse in India (Ministry of Women & Child Development, 2007) reports that Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Delhi reported the highest percentage of sexual abuse among both boys and girls, but the responses from all the sampled 13 states were more or less similar and led to the following statistics being recognised.The National Study on CSA (2007) at a Glance:
53.18 % children in the family environment not going to school reported facing sexual abuse.
49.92% children in schools reported facing sexual abuse.
61.61% children at work (Shop, factory or other places) reported facing sexual abuse.
54.51% children on the streets reported facing sexual abuse.
47.08 % children in institutional care reported facing sexual abuse.
20.90% of all children were subjected to severe forms of sexual abuse that included sexual assault, making the child fondle private parts, making the child exhibit private body parts and being photographed in the nude.
50% abusers are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility.
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There are three key steps in preventing child sexual abuse in our society, and The Rakshin Project by Sakshi aims to do just that.
1. Learning about Child Sexual Abuse
Understanding the issue and familiarising yourself with the statistics and occurrence is the first step towards a society free of this evil. Equipping yourself and others around you to be aware of the possible signs of sexual abuse, repercussions and reporting procedures of Child Sexual Abuse. Educating ourselves and others around us will help us minimise incidences of child sexual abuse from taking place. The more people are aware of the issue, the more people can be a part of creating a preventive environment.
2. Breaking the Stigma & Silence
The shame, stigma, silence & denial surrounding all things sexual in the country discourages disclosures and reporting of cases of child sexual abuse. It is important therefore that we break this silence and speak up about the issue that is affecting 1 out of 2 children in India. The Rakshin Project by Sakshi has created the hashtag #IWillTell which you can use to share your experiences and thoughts about the issue to raise awareness over social media platforms.
3. Joining the Movement
The Rakshin Project by Sakshi is working towards creating a social tipping point in India to move towards eradication of child sexual abuse. Each individual citizen who joins the movement is adding to this collective goal and bringing us closer to a society where the constitutional rights guaranteed to every adult and child by our country become a reality.
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Trouble walking or sitting
Display knowledge of sexual acts inappropriate for their age, or even seductive behavior
Make strong efforts to avoid a specific person, without an obvious reason
May not want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical activities
Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
Bruises, lacerations, redness, swelling or bleeding in genital, vaginal or anal area
Blood in urine or faeces
An STD or pregnancy, especially under the age of 14
Running away from home
Know more about sex than others their age
Behave in an improper or aggressively sexual way with peers, teachers or other adults
Use sexual language or make drawings with sexual images
Start wetting or soiling their pants, wetting the bed or thumb-sucking
Be afraid to go to sleep, have nightmares or sleep long hours
Become withdrawn, anxious, fearful or depressed
Have physical trauma or irritations in the anal and genital area
Withdraw from regular friends and family, from regular activities
Be secretive about who they see and where they have been
Be unusually protective about a new relationship or friendship and unwilling to talk about it
Hang around with older people
Wear clothing or jewelry or have a phone or device they could not afford to buy
Be very secretive or reactive about their browser history, websites they visit or contacts on their phone
Comments such as “I’ve got a secret”, or “I don’t like Uncle”
Fear of certain places eg. bedroom or bathroom
Eating disorders
Promiscuity or prostitution
Using younger children in sexual acts
Attempts at making self as unattractive as possible
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What should you do if you suspect that a child is being abused? Or if a child confides in you? It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed and confused. Child abuse is a difficult subject that can be hard to accept and even harder to talk about—for both you and the child. When talking with an abused child, the best way to encourage them is to show calm reassurance and unconditional support. If you’re having trouble finding the words, let your actions speak for you.
Avoid denial and remain calm.A common reaction to news as unpleasant and shocking as child abuse is denial. However, if you display denial to a child, or show shock or disgust at what they are saying, the child may be afraid to continue and will shut down. As hard as it may be, remain as calm and reassuring as you can.
Don’t interrogate.Let the child explain to you in their own words what happened, but don’t interrogate the child or ask leading questions. This may confuse and fluster the child and make it harder for them to continue their story.
Reassure the child that they did nothing wrong.It takes a lot for a child to come forward about abuse. Reassure them that you take what they say seriously, and that it is not their fault.
Safety comes first.If you feel that your safety or the safety of the child would be threatened if you tried to intervene, leave it to the professionals. You may be able to provide more support later.
When a child discloses their sexual abuse to you, it means that they trust you. It’s important to react in a responsible way that’s reassuring to the child. Disclosure of sexual abuse means a child has chosen you as the person he or she trusts enough to tell. It is the moment when children learn whether others can be trusted to stand up for them.
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Talking to children about signs you see or something they’ve told you:
Find a quiet, non-isolated place to talk.
Drop to the child’s eye level, or sit next to the child.
Remain calm, be patient, and try not to rush the child.
Ask the child about the sign in a simple, open-ended style. “I’m worried about you. You seem really afraid and sad.” Or, “Is anything bothering you?”
Listen to the response. Repeat what the child said with a question inflection. “Your daddy touched your privates?”
Let the child use their own words and repeat their words exactly again, followed by, “Is there anything else?”
Reassure the child that he or she has done nothing wrong and say, “I care about you”
Tell the child, “This took a lot of courage. I’m proud of you telling me.”
Refrain from behaviours that will frighten the child, put him or her on the defensive, or cause him or her to relive the abusive events.
Don’t ask questions that begin with “W” like who, where, when, or why.
Don’t overreact or make negative statements about the abuser.
Don’t make judgments or conclusions about the child or abuser.
Don’t interrogate, investigate, or delve deeply into the events.
Don’t ask leading questions or make suggestions about what happened. For example, ask, “How did you get hurt?” rather than “Did someone do that to you?”
Don’t make promises that the information will be kept confidential.
Don’t make any broad promises about the future.
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Typically, the situations that require reporting are:
A child and/or adult shows numerous and consistent warning signs of abuse or being at risk to abuse
A child has stated that he or she is being abused by an adult
A child has stated that another child has been engaging in sexually harmful behaviors with him or her
A child states that he or she has sexually harmed another child
An adult has stated that he or she has sexually abused a child
An individual has become aware of child pornography online
An adult is aware of another adult or child who is viewing child pornography
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You can file a report at any SJPU (Special Juvenile Police Unit) or Local Police Station.Alternatively, the POCSO e-box button is available at the Commission’s website, www.ncpcr.gov.in. Complaints can also be registered on email id: pocsoebox-ncpcr@gov.in or mobile no.: 9868235077
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Child Sexual Abuse is NOT merely a family matter, and the consequences of staying silent can be devastating for the child.
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Reporting is anonymous. In most places, you do not have to give your name when you report child abuse.
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If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even if you can’t see the whole picture, others may have noticed signs as well, and a pattern can help identify child sexual abuse that might have otherwise been overlooked.
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As long as there is reasonable suspicion about Child Sexual Abuse. There is no definitive proof needed to make a report. You can consider making a report in the following circumstances:
You witnessed a pattern of boundary violations by an adult or youth.
You received a disclosure of sexual abuse or boundary violation from a child.
You see physical signs of abuse.
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Individuals can now lodge their complaints at National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)’s POCSO e-box. Considering the growing menace of cyber crimes targeting children, NCPCR has now enhanced the scope of POCSO e-box to handle cyber bullying, cyber stalking, morphing of images and child pornography.
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The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 was enacted to provide a robust legal framework for the protection of children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography, while safeguarding the interest of the child at every stage of the judicial process. The framing of the Act seeks to put children first by making it easy to use by including mechanisms for child-friendly reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through designated Special Courts. The Act provides for a variety of offences under which an accused can be punished. It recognises forms of penetration other than penile-vaginal penetration and criminalises acts of immodesty against children too. The Amendment Act introduced in 2019 seeks to enhance punishment for Sexual Offences against Children, with a provision for Death Penalty.
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Penetrative Sexual Assault
MINIMUM : 20 Years
MAXIMUM : Life Imprisonment
Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault
MINIMUM : 20 Years (Rigorous)
MAXIMUM : Death Penalty
Sexual Assault
MINIMUM : 3 Years
MAXIMUM : 5 Years
Aggravated Sexual Assault
MINIMUM : 5 Years
MAXIMUM : 7 Years
Sexual Harassment
MINIMUM : Fine
MAXIMUM : 3 Years
Use of Child for Pornographic Material
MINIMUM : 5 Years
MAXIMUM :7 Years
Storage of Child Pornography
MINIMUM : Fine
MAXIMUM : 7 Years
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The term ‘child’ has been defined to mean “any person below the age of eighteen years”. The Act offers several procedural and substantive reliefs to a child victim. They are as follows:
Child-friendly processes: The Act requires respect for the dignity and autonomy of the child at every stage of the legal process. It provides for child-friendly procedures for medical examination, recording the statement of the child by the Police and Magistrate, as well as during the examination of the child in court. Cases reported by a child must be recorded by the police/Special Juvenile Police Unit (Hereinafter referred to as SPJU) in simple language so that the child understands what is being recorded. A qualified translator/interpreter must be provided to the child if the statement is recorded other than the preferred language of the child. The child must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or any other person whom the child trusts or has confidence in, during procedures involving medical examination, recording statements, or giving testimonies in court. Before any medical examination is conducted, consent by or on behalf of the child must be obtained. Medical examination can be conducted irrespective of whether a First Information Report/Complaint has been filed. Where the victim is a girl, examination must be done by a woman doctor. Also, the child must not be brought face to face with the accused while giving his/her statement to the police or magistrate, or while testifying in court. If necessary, a support person must also be provided to a child to assist him/her during the investigation and trial. Under no circumstances can the child be asked to remain in the police station at night.
Emergency medical care: Child victims who are found to be in need of urgent medical attention are entitled to receive emergency medical care within 24 hours of the Police/ SPJU receiving information about the crime.
Care and protection: If the police/SPJU have reasonable grounds to believe that the child is in need of care and protection, they must immediately make arrangements to give the child such care and protection and also alert the Child Welfare Committee ( Hereinafter referred to as CWC), the statutory authority vested with this responsibility. The CWC can take steps to ensure that care and protection is extended to the child. For instance, it can provide the child with a support person to render assistance during the investigation and trial. It can also order that the child be taken out of the custody of her/his family if she/he has been or is likely to be sexually abused there.
Compensation: It is not essential that the accused needs to be convicted in order to receive compensation, a child victim may receive interim compensation for immediate needs for relief of rehabilitation and final compensation for the loss or injury caused to her/him. The State Government must pay the compensation to the victim within 30 days from the date of the order of the Special Court.
Punishment: The Act prescribes punishment for offenders who commit sexual offences against children.
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1. Police / SJPU
Record information
Conduct preliminary inquiry
Report the case to CWC/Special Court within 24 hours
Produce child before ewe within 24 hours,if required
Adhere to medical needs of child
Keep parent/guardian informed
Inform Special Court about appointment of Support Person within 24 hours
Ensure that at no point of time child comes in contact with accused
2. CWC
Determine placement of child within 3 days with family/children home/shelter home if found in need of care and protection
Provide Support Person
3. District Child Protection Unit
Maintain list of interpreters/translators/special educators etc. and make it available to authorities
Make payment for services of interpreters/ translators
4. Magistrate
Record statement at the residence of child or at a place of child’s choice/comfort
Provide child/parents/representative, a copy of the document of final report by the police
5. Special Court / Judge
Conduct in-camera trial
Ensure child-friendly atmosphere
Respect dignity of the child
Maintain anonymity of child
Record evidence of child within 30 days
Complete trial within one year
6. Special Public Prosecutor
Prosecution of cases under the Act exclusively
7. Support Person
Maintain confidentiality
Keep parent/guardian informed
Inform child of his/her role in judicial process
8. State Government
Designate a court as Special Court
Appoint a Special Public Prosecutor
Provide publicity to the Act
Impart trainings to Authorities/Stakeholders
Frame rules and guidelines
9. Central Government
Provide publicity to the Act
Impart trainings to Authorities/Stakeholders
Frame Rules and guidelines
10. NCPCR/SCPCRs
Monitor implementation of the Act
Call for reports from ewes on specific cases
Report on the implementation of the Act by way of a separate chapter in its annual report
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A person commits an offence of sexual harassment against a child under Section 11 if she/her does any of the following with a sexual intent.
Says any word or makes a sound or gesture or shows any part of the body or object to the child.
Makes the child show her/his body, or part of her/his body. a)To the person, or b)To any other person
Shows any object in any form for pornographic purposes.
Follows the child repeatedly or watched or contacts a child directly or through other means (stalking).
Threatens to use a real or fabricated depiction of any part of the child’s body or involvement of the child in a sexual act in the media ( e.g., a threat to circulate a morphed picture with child’s face and body of another child on the internet). vi) Entices the child for pornographic purposes or gives gratification for such purpose. Sexual harassment is a non-penetrative and non-touch based sexual offence. The distinct feature of this offence is that it does not involve penetration of body parts or insertion of objects or physical contact, but requires a sexual intent while doing any of the acts listed above.
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Yes, a child can be charged with a sexual offence under The Act. However, cases against a child will lie before the Juvenile Justice Board as per procedures laid down under the Juvenile Justice ( Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 ( JJ Act). The child cannot be tried by the Special Court and cannot be punished under The Act. If the child is found to have committed an offence under The Act, the Juvenile Justice Board could pass any of the following orders as per provisions listed under the JJ Act:
Advice and admonish the child and send her/him home with parents or guardian after counselling.
Direct the child to participate in group counselling and similar activities.
Order the child to perform community service.
Order the parent or the child to pay a fine, if such child is working and is above 14 years of age.
Release the child on probation of good conduct after executing a bond and place the child in the custody of parent or guardian or fit person.
Release the child on probation of good conduct and place the child in the custody of a fit institution for good behaviour and wellbeing of a child for not more than three years.
Send the child to a special home for reformation for a maximum period of three years.
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All persons are under an obligation to report offences under The Act. According to Section 19 (1), anyone who knows that an offence is committed or believes that it is likely to be committed or where there is an apprehension that a sexual offence is likely to be committed against a child will have to inform the SJPU or the local police. Failure to report the commission of an offence is punishable under section 21 (1) with imprisonment for a maximum term of six months and/or fine. Children too are under an obligation to report offences under This Act. However they cannot be punished for failure to report an offence.
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Yes. Media, hotels, clubs, studios, photographic facilities, and hospitals have a special duty to report cases. If they find materials or objects that are sexually exploitative of children, they must report it to the police or the SPJU. Eg. if the housekeeping personnel come across pornographic pictures of children in a hotel room, they must notify the SJPU or the Local Police about it. The failure to report will attract imprisonment for a maximum term of six months and/or fine.