The DCW’s tweet raised hackles on Twitter with many wondering how a DCW chief could share such a video.
On Tuesday, Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal posted a video which showed an elderly man assaulting a toddler on Twitter.
She wrote: “Chilled to the bone on watching this. @DelhiPolice pl imm file FIR & arrest this pervert. He is of the age of her grandfather! The child is so small. Shudder to think what would happen if ppl didn't intervene. Also appeal to all to help Police identify him. He should be arrested!”
The DCW’s tweet raised hackles on Twitter with many wondering how a DCW chief could share such a video.
Journalist Dhanya Rajendran pointed out to Maliwal that the video was actually from Hyderabad and was from a case three months ago.
Rajendran wrote: “This is a video from Hyderabad from March. This man was caught. And I am shocked that the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women is publishing a rape video on social media. And please stop sharing child sexual abuse videos online, even if you're trying to report a crime."
This is a video from Hyderabad from March. This man was caught. And I am shocked that the Chairperson of the Delhi commission for Women is publishing a rape video on social media.
— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) July 23, 2019
This v disturbing video was viral on social media. Made my blood boil. Want the man 2 get strongest punishment. Shared video so that he is identified! However, hv deleted it & sought report from Police. Apologize if I have hurt sentiments. Intention is only to get justice 4 girl.
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 23, 2019
The case is of Hyderabad and the man is already facing punishment. But being DCW chief, you should know that it is irresponsible to share such videos. You shd hv done a research first @SwatiJaiHind
— Sanya Pandey (@sanyapandey13) July 23, 2019
I am shocked that AAP Leader& Chairperson,Del Comm for Women is insensitive enough to publicly post a child’s sexual molestation video rather than taking appropriate action&reaching out to the concerned authorities.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) July 23, 2019
Please for the sake of the child-desist from such sensationalism
Later, Swati Maliwal appeared to justify her stance and wrote: “This v disturbing video was viral on social media. Made my blood boil. Want the man 2 get strongest punishment. Shared video so that he is identified! However, hv deleted it & sought report from Police. Apologize if I have hurt sentiments. Intention is only to get justice 4 girl.
1. New definition for child pornography
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Any sexually explicit digital or computer generated content involving children will come under the purview of "child pornography", according to a new definition proposed by the government in a bid to convey the message of zero tolerance towards it. In the proposed changes in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Women and Child Development Ministry has defined child pornography and enhanced punishment for its possession and distribution, a ministry spokesperson said recently.
2. Amendment to POCSO Act
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The Union Cabinet had recently approved the amendments to the POCSO Act.According to the new definition, child pornography is "any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child which includes photograph, video, digital or computer generated image indistinguishable from an actual child and an image created, adapted or modified but appear to depict a child".
The initiative to define child pornography has been taken by WCD Minister Smriti Irani to convey the message that from now there will be zero tolerance for child pornography and for that reason definition of child pornography was essential, the ministry spokesperson said.She said that definition leads to setting the context of the crime.
3. More fines
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"Only prescribing punishment leads to possibility that the case may get entangled in inconclusive legal battles. It also underlines and enforces citizens responsibility to report and destroy, because not reporting is an evidence of crime," she said.The ministry has also revised fines for possessing and distributing child pornography.
Fine with the intent to transmit, possess porn in any form but fail to delete or destroy is at least Rs 5,000 for first offence and Rs 10,000 for repeated offenders.
"The upper limit of fine has not been set," the spokesperson said.Fine for any person who transmits or distributes child porn except the ones producing it as evidence in court would face imprisonment of three years with fine.
Earlier, the fine for possessing child pornography was between Rs 1000-3000.The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to strengthen the POCSO Act by including death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children, besides providing stringent punishments for other crimes against minors, officials said.
