POCSO conference: ‘Justice must be delivered with empathy and long-term support’

The concluding day of the national POCSO conference in Hyderabad saw an emphatic push for overhauling the system to curb child sexual abuse. Experts and jurists called for reforms in rehabilitation frameworks, victim compensation, and role of forensic and psychological support in trials under the POCSO Act.

Technical sessions on Sunday (July 6) focused on the importance of timely and trauma-sensitive medical evidence, identity protection, and the integration of child psychologists throughout the judicial process. Experts also highlighted the need for active engagement of support persons for victims, a provision often overlooked in the implementation of the Act, alongside the importance of medical and police coordination in preventing secondary trauma during investigations.

R. Sudha from Osmania Medical College and M. Chetana from the Women Safety Wing emphasised on victim compensation schemes, rehabilitation policies, and engagement of counsellers under the POCSO Act.

Justice K. Lakshman and Justice Tirumaladevi Eada underscored institutional accountability and the urgent need to close the gap between legislation and ground-level execution. The sessions further examined shortcomings in victim compensation schemes and stressed the need for long-term rehabilitation policies that go beyond symbolic aid.

Supreme Court Judge Justice Vikram Nath, in his keynote address, called for a justice system that places survivors at its centre. “Each case of child sexual abuse is not merely a legal battle, but a broken trust in childhood. Justice must be delivered with empathy and long-term support,” he said.

Child-friendly courts

Acting Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court Justice Sujoy Paul cautioned against procedural delays and technical barriers that often re-traumatise children, while Justice P. Sam Koshy highlighted the need for child-friendly courts and robust legal aid systems.

UNICEF’s Child Protection specialist Sonykutty George called for systemic changes in POCSO trials and rights-based rehabilitation mechanisms. He advocated for the replication of Bharosa Centres across states to align with international child protection standards.

With participation from over 400 stakeholders, spanning the judiciary, law enforcement, child welfare departments, and civil society, the conference ended with a call to shift from a conviction-centric model to a survivor-centric approach, grounded in dignity, coordinated action, and long-term care.