Kapil Sarkar
Ph.D Research Scholar in Political Science, Department of Economics & Politics, Vidya Bhavana, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India
E-mail – kapilsarkar1112@gmail.com
Orcid ID – https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9154-0925
Issue: Volume 2 No. 1 (March 2026) Anubodhan
Received: 19 March 2026 / Accepted: 24 March 2026 / Published: 31 March 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.65885/anubodhan.v2n1.2026.013
Abstract
Child sexual abuse constitutes a grave social issue in contemporary India, negatively impacting the safety, dignity, and development of children across various communities. For many years, this problem remained largely obscured in India due to deep-seated social prejudices, weak legal provisions, and a pervasive lack of awareness. However, the enactment of the ‘Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act’ (POCSO) in 2012 ushered in a radical transformation in the country’s legal and political landscape regarding child protection. This article examines the nexus between gender justice, equality, and child protection by analyzing the POCSO Act and its political significance in contemporary India. The Act has established a comprehensive legal framework across India to combat various forms of sexual offenses committed against children, while also introducing procedural mechanisms aimed at making the judicial process more sensitive to the needs of the victims. One of the most salient features of this legislation is its ‘gender-neutral’ character, which acknowledges the reality that both boys and girls can fall victim to sexual abuse. This perspective reflects a broader understanding of gender justice – one that transcends the traditional focus solely on female victims to emphasize equal protection for all children. Simultaneously, the Act highlights the state’s expanding role in safeguarding vulnerable social groups and reinforcing institutional accountability. Consequently, this analysis also reviews the political and social debates surrounding the implementation of the Act, thereby situating the POCSO legislation within the broader framework of democratic governance and human rights. This study argues that the Act represents a pivotal step toward strengthening child rights and, by extension, establishing gender justice in India. However, robust legal provisions alone are insufficient to ensure effective protection; rather, they must be complemented by widespread social awareness, enhanced institutional capacity, and unwavering political commitment.
Keywords: Child Protection, Gender Justice, Child Rights, Sexual Abuse Law, Legal Protection India
How to cite: Sarkar, K. (2026). Gender Justice and Child Protection: The Political Significance of the POCSO Act in India. Anubodhan, 2(1), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.65885/anubodhan.v2n1.2026.013