Question

What are primary policies that should be enacted to protect women and children? Please explain your answer.

Answer 1

Ans) The POCSO Act was passed to strengthen legal provisions for the protection of children below 18 years of age from sexual abuse and exploitation. Under this Act, if any girl under 18 is seeking abortion the service provider is compelled to register a complaint of sexual assault with the police.

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Implement age-appropriate approaches. Younger adolescent girls require different

interventions from older girls; likewise married girls vis-à-vis unmarried girls, even of the

same age.

• Promote girls-only activities to increase participation, e.g., in youth centres.

• Develop the skills of local girl leaders to serve as mentors and role models for younger

adolescents.

• Ensure access to girls-only spaces – safe havens from trauma, stress, violence and abuse – where girls can develop friendship networks, learn about their rights and become leaders.

• Work with girls to improve their access to capabilities and assets that can reduce

vulnerabilities and expand opportunities for livelihoods.

• Promote participation that will help girls develop self-confidence and skills, build

competencies, learn to be active, shape their own lives and expand their own freedoms.

• Involve families and communities, including political and social leaders, from the beginning,

so that they support and create opportunities for girls’ empowerment.

• Work on changing gender-discriminatory attitudes among boys and men.

• Involve local and national governments to factor gender equality into programmes and policies.