Delhi High Court Organises Awareness Workshop On Online Child Sexual Abuse, Launches ‘Cyber Awareness Interactive Videos’

The Delhi High Court on Thursday conducted an awareness workshop on “online child sexual exploitation and abuse” and launched various “cyber awareness interactive videos” for children, in collaboration with the Delhi police.

The Chief Guest at the event was Supreme Court judge, Justice PS Narasimha. Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, other judges of the Delhi High Court and Commissioner of Delhi Police Sanjay Arora were also present.

Justice Mukta Gupta, Justice Yogesh Khanna, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, Justice Gaurang Kanth and Justice Saurabh Banerjee are the members of the Committee to regulate and monitor progress of guidelines under the POCSO Act. Justice Gupta heads the Committee. 

Delivering the welcome address, Justice Mukta Gupta said that the workshop and Delhi High Court’s initiative of launching the interactive videos are founded on the idea of protecting the children from “anything that threatens to take away their optimism and innocence.”

“The advent of the Internet has revolutionized the way people perceive, think and act. The unimaginable has become the new normal. The impossible has become the routine. This however, is not without risks. Over the last few years, the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed the digitization of professional social and personal interaction, including communication for education all over the world at an unprecedented scale, with physical schools having resumed India as a society is left with a strong realization that the online presence of children need for education or socialization will only increase with time it becomes more imperative tools are developed to safeguard computers on the internet,” she said.

Justice Mukta added that the idea behind launching the interactive videos is to prevent cyber bullying, online threatening, cyber sexting and cyber stalking.

“These videos show how in the normal course of events, children fall prey to the cyber crimes,” the judge said.

Delivering his introductory address, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora said that the most important tool to prevent crime, especially crime against vulnerable sections like children, is awareness.

“The reason behind the strength of awareness as the defender of crime is because children as compared to most of us adults are both sensitive and receptive… I'll also like to mention that the Delhi Police will be working hard to enlarge the scope, the volume and, based on the feedback, the quality of these awareness videos to make sure the message reaches as many children in Delhi. I'd like to wish everyone a very safe, enjoyable and meaningful life in the cyber world,” Arora said.

Chief Justice Sharma and Justice Siddharth Mridul also delivered keynote and special addresses. The vote of thanks was delivered by Justice Saurabh Banerjee.

“It's only your parents who are your well wishers in this cruel world. Don't trust anyone till you're grown up. Even when you grow up, parents are your best friends. Please trust them and listen to what they are telling you. It's a cruel world,” Chief Justice Sharma said.

In his presidential address, Supreme Court judge, Justice PS Narasimha emphasized that there has been a significant shift in the way the judiciary has been approaching things since last couple of years and that the courts are now taking an “extra step” to implement the laws after they are enacted.

“I must congratulate all of you of the Delhi High Court to be the precursor in that. We are the biggest stakeholders and we see how crime is committed and case after case we see it's not being implemented. The laws are clearly laid down and when we take an extra step and seek to implement the laws, I think the purpose and object of enactment will be accomplished. In this proactive step you move out in the corridors of the court and seek to implement it and for implementation, you need the help and assistance of others,” the judge said. 

The videos can be viewed here