Policy needed to stop online child abuse

Provisions should be incorporated in the existing laws to bring online sexual harassment of children within purview of legal system, speakers said yesterday.

At a discussion organised by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) at the Jatiya Press Club, they said the government should formulate necessary policy to stop the misuse of internet in abusing children.

Saimum Reza, senior lecturer of Law at Brac University, spoke on the limitations in the Information Technology and Communication Act 2006, Pornography Control Act 2012 and Digital Security Bill-2018.

When the cyber crime tribunal comes across a case dealing with a child victim, it promptly transfers the case to the juvenile court, he said, but laws that protect children from crimes happening offline don't protect them from online offences.

Public prosecutor of cyber crimes tribunal Nazrul Islam said many victims of cyber crimes do not report them, fearing social stigma. Cyber criminals take advantage of children coming from poor families and their lack of knowledge about internet, he added.

The perpetrator then negotiates with the victim's family, trying to keep them away from seeking legal support, Nazrul added at the programme moderated by Sheepa Hafiza, executive director of ASK. 

Additional Deputy Commissioner of DMP Mishuk Chakma said 522 women and 222 men had reported being victims of cyber crimes last year. Underage perpetrators should be tried under special arrangements, he said.