POCSO Act, 2012 is a gender-neutral act and gives equitable protection to both girls and boys.
The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age.
The Act incorporates child-friendly procedures for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation as well as the trial of such offences covered under the act.
People who traffic children for sexual purposes are also punishable under the provisions relating to abetment in the Act.
Medical Examination of Child needs to be conducted within 24 hours.
Recording the statement of the child at the residence of the child or at the place of his choice, preferably by a woman police officer.
No child is to be detained in any police station in the night for any reason what so ever.
Police officials are directed not to be in uniform while recording the statement of the child so victimized.