Four things to know when reporting on sexual offences against children

The dos and don’ts of POCSO cases

Reporting on sexual violences against children is never easy and requires great sensitivity. A representative image. Photo: Rahi Foundation

Many journalists find it daunting to report on sexual violence involving children. Such incidents, which fall under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, are never easy to write about, requiring great sensitivity to ensure that what you publish not only does not cause further trauma to those concerned, but that it does not undermine the judicial process. Here are four things to keep in mind when reporting on POCSO cases:

1. Alert the police (not just your editor)
   Writing a news story or feature is not enough. A journalist — any person coming across such cases, actually — are legally bound to bring them to the notice of the Special Juvenile Unit or the local police. A failure to do so may lead to an imprisonment of six months, a fine, or both.
2. Fact-check once. Then fact-check again
   Pay particular attention to the accuracy of your story. Make sure all particulars are correct. POCSO provides for punishment against false complaints or untrue information. Any person or organisation found falsely reporting a case is liable to be punished with six month’s imprisonment, fine, or both.
3. Do not defame
   This goes without saying. No reports defaming the victim, the victim’s family, or a particular vicinity should be published by any media organisation, as per Chapter 5, Section 23 (1) of the Act. It also restricts the publication of any material which may harm the victim’s reputation or may interfere with privacy. Any contravention may lead to an imprisonment of six months — which may be extended to one year, or even for life.
4. Do not name
   While there is an ongoing debate about whether names of rape survivors should be published or not, POCSO makes it very clear that you must not. Exceptions can be made only in those cases where a Special Court feels the need to do so. Get on the wrong side of this and you are looking at a year’s imprisonment (which can be extended up to a lifetime), a fine, or both.