FROM TRAINING TO TRANSFORMATION: ELEVATING CAPACITY BUILDING AND VICTIM SUPPORT IN INDIA LEGAL RESPONSES TO CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

AUTHOR – ALIN ANNA BENNY, STUDENT AT CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY)

BEST CITATION – ALIN ANNA BENNY, FROM TRAINING TO TRANSFORMATION: ELEVATING CAPACITY BUILDING AND VICTIM SUPPORT IN INDIA LEGAL RESPONSES TO CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (1) OF 2025, PG. 1078-1083, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

India has robust legal safeguards against offences pertaining to the exploitation of minors for sexual purposes. In addition, the nation is a party to numerous international and regional frameworks and has ratified the majority of significant international conventions pertinent to the fight against the sexual exploitation of minors. In order to comply with its regional and international obligations, India has also progressively adopted and modified national laws pertaining to child sexual exploitation. It is noteworthy to applaud the passage of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 30 and subsequent modifications to make sure this is gender-neutral. The recently proposed Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill for 2021, if it becomes law, would be another step in the right direction towards bringing Indian legislation up to date with global norms.31 But there are significant flaws in the bill as well, like the death penalty. The Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) draft Bill 2021, which is anticipated to be introduced during the winter session of Parliament, has shortcomings that the Indian Leadership Forum Against Trafficking (ILFAT) has pointed out in a letter to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. This paper will examine the main ideas of the bill as well as a few of its shortcomings. 

Keywords Sexual exploitation, Minors, Rehabilitation, Trafficking, Prevention