AGRA: Eleven years ago, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) Act was enacted to prevent crimes against children. However, cases related to child abuse have been rising in Uttar Pradesh. On an average, 22 cases are registered in the state every day, according to the latest NCRB report. Across the country, UP recorded the highest number of Pocso cases in 2022. A total of 63,414 incidents related to crimes against children were reported in 2022 and the crime rate was at 14.3. In 2022, a total of 38,444 victims were registered under sections 4 and 6 (punishment for penetrative sexual assault), a surge compared to 33,348 in 2021. Data showed aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the Pocso Act and in these cases, 38,030 were girls and 414 were boys.According to the report, UP recorded highest number of incidents at 8,151, followed by Maharashtra (7,572), Madhya Pradesh (5,996), Tamil Nadu (4,968), and Rajasthan (3,371). Meanwhile, Goa (4), Himachal Pradesh (9), Nagaland (26), Arunachal Pradesh (47), and Manipur (55) reported the lowest number of Pocso incidents in 2022. Among Union territories, Delhi witnessed 1, 512 incidents under the Pocso Act in 2022, followed by Jammu and Kashmir (316), Puducherry (105), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (109), and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (55). The Pocso Act, which was enforced on November 14, 2012, is gender-neutral. It defines different forms of sexual abuse including but not limited to sexual harassment, pornography, penetrative and non-penetrative assault.

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