15th November 2024: An alarming 50% of children in India (MWCD 2007) experience sexual abuse and 182 cases are reported every day (NCRB 2022). As, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) cases continue to rise across India, Arpan, the nation’s largest NGO focused on the prevention of CSA, has a large-scale public awareness campaign aimed directly at child sexual offenders. This campaign, called #ProtectedByPOCSO, carries a powerful and clear message: Child Sexual Abuse is a punishable offense – Stop Right Now or Get Caught. It is an urgent call to action against CSA offenders, delivering a powerful warning that they will face serious legal consequences under the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses, 2012) as well as social consequences.
It also seeks to educate the public on what constitutes CSA, emphasizing that it is neither acceptable nor tolerable given that 42% of all crimes against children are sexual offenses (NCRB 2022). By creating widespread awareness of CSA laws and protections, Arpan aims to deter offenders from continuing these crimes, ensuring they understand that they will be held accountable.
“It’s time we address the root of the problem and deter Child Sexual Offenders from sexually abusing children,” said Pooja Taparia, Founder and CEO of Arpan. “We want every offender to know that they won’t get away. They are being watched and once their family, friends, and colleagues find out they will also isolate them. Our children are also protected by the POCSO Act, and offenders need to stop right now or they will be caught and jailed and face severe consequences”.
Joining the campaign, Bollywood actress Vidya Balan shared, “As Arpan’s Goodwill Ambassador, I am proud to support its mission and the #ProtectedByPOCSO campaign because the time is now to speak up for child safety. Children deserve to grow up in a world free from the fear of sexual abuse. Too often, offenders take advantage of children’s innocence, manipulating and harming them under the guise of trust. This campaign is here to ensure that these heinous actions will not go unnoticed or unpunished.
All children in India are protected under POCSO, and through this campaign, we are making it known that anyone who harms a child will face severe legal and social consequences. Let’s make this message loud and clear!”
The #ProtectedByPOCSO campaign is being launched during Child Safety Week (14th–20th November), rolling out at a large scale to amplify the message of child safety. In partnership with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), child safety messages are being displayed across public transport systems in Mumbai and Thane. The campaign is featured on billboards, Mumbai Metro trains (Line 2A and 7), TMC buses, and BEST buses, as well as on installations outside schools. It is also being featured in PVR theaters across multiple locations in Mumbai and on OTT platforms.
For more information on the campaign and details about the POCSO Act, visit www.arpan.org.in or follow #ProtectedByPOCSO on social media. Together, let’s create a safe environment for India’s children.
