Statement by India under Agenda Item: 3 Interactive dialogue with SR on the Sale and Sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material at the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council (24 February – 20 March 2020), delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, [Geneva, 03 March 2020]

Mr. Vice President,

My delegation thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of the report.

2. India puts a lot of emphasis on the protection and promotion of the rights of children. The Ministry of Women and Child Development ensures development, care and protection of children through cross-cutting policies and programmes.

3. The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is a centrally sponsored scheme of Government of India that aims at building a protective environment for children in difficult circumstances, as well as other vulnerable children, through Government-Civil Society Partnership. ICPS brings together multiple existing child protection schemes of the Ministry under one comprehensive umbrella, and integrates additional interventions for protecting children and preventing harm.

4. To address the special legal needs of children, the National Legal Services Authority has formulated the NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and their Protection) Scheme, 2015.

5. The National Commission for protection of Child Rights is mandated to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

6. India has also enacted a law to deal with sexual violence against children of all genders. This law provides for stringent punishment, special courts, as well as procedural measures to protect the child during investigation and trial.

I Thank you, Mr. Vice President.