Educating Students on Sexual Offences and Gender Sensitivity

In a recent Supreme Court hearing on the misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, advocate Sandeep Deshmukh stressed the importance of educating students about the consequences of rape and sexual offences.

Key Recommendations

• Mandatory Education:
  • All schools, both government-aided and private, should incorporate lessons on the severity of violating someone's privacy and dignity, highlighting that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
  • Emphasis should be on teaching students, especially boys, that sexual abuse and assault are serious crimes.
• Gender Equality and Sensitivity:
  • Schools should aim to eliminate socially tolerated misogyny and foster gender equality and sensitivity among students.
  • Promoting these values at a young, impressionable age (before or during puberty) is crucial, as children are more receptive than older individuals.

Importance of School's Role

• Given that families can perpetuate patriarchal biases and stereotypes, schools are pivotal in instilling values of respect and equality.

Statistics and Institutionalization

• India witnessed 29,670 rapes in 2023, averaging 81 per day. Most perpetrators are known to the survivors.
• Both government and private schools should integrate this education into the curriculum, akin to subjects like civics or moral science, rather than conducting sporadic classes or workshops.
• Fostering gender empathy in young Indians is crucial, beyond merely teaching legalities.

Schools are encouraged to adopt this responsibility earnestly to create a more empathetic and informed future generation.