Male child victims of sexual abuse to be included in victim compensation fund: Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

What made Gandhi write such a letter?

• As per National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) data, though 31 State Governments have notified their Victim Compensation Scheme under Rule 7 of POCSO Rules, 2012, the disbursements of compensation has not been satisfactory.
• In some of the states, the interim compensation to child victims of sexual abuse is not being awarded to meet the immediate medical and other needs of the child for relief or rehabilitation.
• The male child who is the most neglected victim of child sexual abuse is being ignored for award of compensation and needs to be included.

Factors relating to the loss or injury caused to the victim, as per Rule 7 of POSCO Rules, 2012

Where the Special Court directs the award of compensation to the victim, it shall take into account all relevant factors relating to the loss or injury caused to the victim, including:

• Type of abuse, gravity of the offence and the severity of the mental or physical harm or injury
• Expenditure incurred or likely to be incurred on his medical treatment
• Loss of educational opportunity as a consequence of the offence, including absence from school and trial of the offence, or any other reason
• Loss of employment as a result of the offence including absence from place of employment due to mental trauma, bodily injury, medical treatment and trial of the offence
• Relationship of the child to the offender, if any
• Whether the abuse was a single isolated incidence or whether the abuse took place over a period of time
• Whether the child became pregnant as a result of the offence
• Whether the child contracted a Sexually Transmitted Disease
• Whether the child contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Any disability suffered by the child as a result of the offence
• Financial condition of the child against whom the offence has been committed