Child Welfare Police Officer

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the States/Union Territories to appoint a Child Welfare Police Officer (CWPO) in every police station to exclusively deal with children, either as victims or perpetrators.

Key Points:

• Acting on an advisory issued by the NCPCR, the Home Ministry referred to provisions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
  • It calls for designating at least one officer, not below the rank of an Assistant Sub-Inspector, CWPO in every police station.
• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body established in 2005. 
  • The Commission works under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development for implementing measures for the rights of children. 
• India is a signatory to international conventions and has taken several steps to safeguard the rights of children.

Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act, 2012: 

• It was enacted in 2012 to provide a robust legal framework for the protection of children. 

• Its objectives involve safeguarding children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography while safeguarding the interests of children at every stage of the judicial process. 

• The Act also provides for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of such offences and related matters and incidents.